Separable extensions of noncommutative rings (Q801001)

Let \(R\subset A\) be rings, not necessarily commutative. \textit{K. Hirata} introduced the notion of \(R\subset A\) being H-separable [Nagoya Math. J. 33, 107-115 (1968; Zbl 0179.05804)], and \textit{K. Hirata} and \textit{K. Sugano} defined \(R\subset A\) to be separable [J. Math. Soc. Japan 18, 360-373 (1966; Zbl 0178.368)]. The authors first show that if \(A\subset R\) is H-separable, A is generated over R by the centralizer of R in A, and the center C of A is contained in R, then \(A=B\otimes_ C R\) where B is an Azumaya C-algebra. The authors then define \(R\subset A\) to be strongly separable if \(A\otimes_ R A\cong K\oplus L\) where \(Hom_{A,A}(K,A)=(0)\) and L is a direct summand of \(A^ n\), some \(n>0\). Then H-separable implies strongly separable implies separable. If R is commutative the last two concepts coincide (and, incidentally, do not agree with ''strongly separable'' as used by \textit{F. DeMeyer} and \textit{E. Ingraham} [Separable algebras over commutative rings, Lect. Notes Math. 181 (1971; Zbl 0215.366)], but an example is given to show that in general they do not. Call \(A\supset R\) a pseudo-Galois extension if there is a finite set S of R-automorphisms of A and an \(n>0\) so that \(A\otimes_ R A\) is isomorphic to a direct summand of \(\sum_{\sigma \in S}A^ n_{\sigma}\), where \(A_{\sigma}=A\) with right A-action twisted by \(\sigma\). If \(A\supset R\) is either H-separable or Galois, then \(A\supset R\) is pseudo-Galois. If for any \(\sigma\),\(\tau\) in \(Aut_ R(A)\), any non-zero bimodule map from \(A_{\sigma}\) to \(A_{\tau}\) is an isomorphism, then \(A\supset R\) pseudo-Galois implies \(A\supset R\) is strongly separable. Finally, the authors examine \(J_{\sigma}=A^ A_{\sigma}\) for \(A\supset R\) strongly separable and show that \(J_{\sigma}\) is either (0) or rank one over the center of A.