Free symmetric and unitary pairs in division rings infinite-dimensional over their centers. (Q891573)

It is conjectured that the multiplicative group of any (noncommutative) division ring \(D\) contains a noncommutative free subgroup. If \(D\) is endowed with an involution, it quite often appears that there is a free subgroup generated by symmetric or unitary elements. For a detailed review of these problems, see [\textit{J. Z. Gonçalves} and \textit{M. Shirvani}, Commun. Algebra 40, No. 5, 1704-1723 (2012; Zbl 1259.16017)]. Two examples of infinite dimensional division algebras are considered in the current paper. Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic not \(2\), \(G\) a nonabelian torsion-free nilpotent group, and \(D\) the ring of fractions of the group algebra \(kG\). A pair of elements is ``free'' if it generates a noncommutative free group. It is shown that \(D\) has free pairs of symmetric elements and free pairs of unitary elements, with respect to the involution induced by the group involution \(g\mapsto g^{-1}\). For the case where \(G=\langle x,y\rangle\) is the Heisenberg group, it is shown more generally that \(D\) has free symmetric and free unitary pairs with respect to any involution \((*)\), except when \(x^*x^{-1}\), \(y^*y^{-1}\) are in the center of \(G\). Another division algebra considered here is the ring of fractions \(D_1\) of the first Weyl algebra over the rational numbers. It is shown that \(D_1\) has a free symmetric pair with respect to one involution, and a free unitary pair with respect to another. To prove these statements, the authors apply a useful lemma on free pairs of matrices over fields with nonarchimedean valuations, to construct free pairs in cyclic algebras of degree \(2\) or \(3\), respectively, which are then lifted through specialization from Ore domains.