Polynomial identity rings as rings of functions. (Q875920)

Let \(M_n=M_n(k)\) be the \(n\times n\) matrix algebra over an algebraically closed field \(k\) of characteristic 0, and let \((M_n)^m\) be the space of the \(m\)-tuples of \(n\times n\) matrices, \(m\geq 2\). Then \(\text{GL}_n\) acts on \((M_n)^m\) by simultaneous conjugation; one considers the induced action of the projective linear group \(\text{PGL}_n\). Let \(U_{m,n}\) stand for the set of \((a_1,\dots,a_m)\in (M_n)^m\) such that the \(a_i\) generate \(M_n\) as an algebra; thus \(U_{m,n}\) is a dense open subset of \((M_n)^m\) which is \(\text{PGL}_n\)-invariant. Let \(G_{m,n}\) be the algebra of \(m\) generic \(n\times n\) matrices \(X_1,\dots,X_m\); its elements give rise to \(\text{PGL}_n\)-equivariant maps \((M_n)^m\to M_n\). One may think of \(U_{m,n}\) and \(G_{m,n}\) as analogues of the affine space \(A^m\) and of the polynomial algebra \(k[x_1,\dots,x_m]\). As in the commutative case one defines the associated ideal \(I(X)\subset G_{m,n}\) and the PI coordinate ring \(k_n[X]=G_{m,n}/I(X)\), and the central simple algebra \(k_n(X)\) of rational functions on the irreducible \(n\)-variety \(X\subset U_{m,n}\). The main results of the paper under review are the following. Let \(\text{Var}_n\) be the category of irreducible \(n\)-varieties with morphisms that are the regular maps of \(n\)-varieties, and let \(\text{PI}_n\) be the category of f.g. prime algebras of PI-degree \(n\) with morphisms the algebra homomorphisms. Then the functor \(X\mapsto k_n[X]\) defined by \((f\colon X\to Y)\mapsto (f^*\colon k_n[Y]\to k_n[X])\) gives a contravariant equivalence of the categories \(\text{Var}_n\) and \(\text{PI}_n\). Further results and applications of this theorem are provided as well.