Group algebras with symmetric units satisfying a group identity. (Q818644)

Let \(G\) be a group and let \(F\) be a field. The group ring \(FG\) has a natural involution given by inverting the elements of \(G\) and extending \(F\)-linearly. Call those units in \(FG\) which are invariant under this involution the symmetric units. The first main result of the paper is the following statement. Suppose \(G\) is a non torsion group and \(FG\) is semiprime. If the set of symmetric units satisfies a group identity then in case \(F\) is of characteristic \(p>2\), then the set of torsion elements \(T\) in \(G\) is an Abelian \(p'\)-group; in case \(F\) is of characteristic \(0\), \(T\) is either Abelian or a Hamilton \(2\)-group; moreover all idempotents of \(FT\) are central in \(FG\) and if not all idempotents of \(FT\) are symmetric, then \(G/T\) satisfies a group identity. Given an infinite field \(F\) of characteristic different from \(2\). In a second main result the authors classify all groups \(G\) with an element of infinite order so that the symmetric units satisfy a group identity.