Rings with an additive rank function (Q916756)

A fundamental theorem due to Schofield shows that on an algebra R over a field k a Sylvester rank function arises from a homomorphism to a simple artinian ring, and that the kernel of this map consists of the elements of rank zero. This result has enabled \textit{C. Dean} and \textit{J. Stafford} [J. Algebra 115, 175-181 (1988; Zbl 0641.16009)] to construct an example of a noetherian algebra that is not embeddable in an artinian ring, and, on the positive side, it has been used by \textit{W. Blair} and \textit{L. Small} [Isr. J. Math. 58, 10-18 (1987; Zbl 0626.16003)] to show that every right noetherian k-algebra that does not contain any nonzero right ideal of reduced rank zero can be embedded in a simple artinian ring. The present paper arose from an attempt to find an artinian embedding for right noetherian rings satisfying the condition imposed by Blair and Small, without the use of Schofield's Theorem. Based on the evidence from several examples, the author tries to find this artinian extension ring within the maximal ring of quotients of the given ring R, although the maximal quotient ring itself is not suited for the purpose, as it may be non-noetherian even when R is right artinian. However, as the set \({\mathfrak F}\) of right ideals of R whose reduced rank equals that of R is a Gabriel filter and furthermore a subfilter of the Gabriel filter of all dense right ideals, a possible candidate is the localization S at the filter \({\mathfrak F}\). While as yet unable to prove that the ring S is artinian, the author shows that it is semiprimary and that its right socle is an artinian essential right ideal.