Polynomial identities and noncommutative versal torsors. (Q932167)

This interesting paper has a title requiring explanation. For a Hopf algebra \(H\) over a field \(k\), and an \(H\)-comodule algebra \(A\), let \(X_H\) be a copy of \(H\) consisting of formal variables. The tensor algebra \(T(X_H)\) is an \(H\)-comodule algebra using the comultiplication of \(H\). An element of \(T(X_H)\) is called an \(H\)-identity for \(A\) if it vanishes under all \(H\)-comodule algebra morphisms from \(T(X_H)\) to \(A\). The \(H\)-identities of \(A\) form an ideal in \(T(X_H)\), and the quotient algebra \((U_H)(A)\) is the universal \(H\)-comodule algebra of \(A\). This explains the ``polynomial identities'' part of the title. The other part of the title concerns Hopf algebras \(H\) and two-cocycles \(a\) from \(H\times H\) to \(k\). Twisting the multiplication on \(H\) by \(a\) yields an algebra \(A^a\), which is an \(H\)-comodule algebra. \(H^a\) is also called a cleft Hopf Galois object (extension of \(k\)). It can also be viewed as a noncommutative analogue of a \(G\)-torsor, or of a principal fiber bundle, where the role of \(G\) is played by \(H\). When \(a\) is a normalized convolution-invertible two-cocycle, the authors associate a two-cocycle \(b\) from \(H\times H\) to \(K_H\), the field of fractions of the symmetric algebra \(S(X_H)\). \(b\) is called the universal cocycle attached to \(a\), i.e., the most general two-cocycle on \(H\) that is cohomologous to \(a\). This paper studies two algebras attached to \(H^a\). One, \((U_H)^a\), is the universal \(H\)-comodule algebra of \(H^a\). The other, \((A_H)^a\), is \(H^b\). \((A_H)^a\) is a cleft \(H\)-Galois extension of the commutative algebra \((B_H)^a\) generated by the values of \(b\) and of its convolution inverse. The authors show that any form of \(H^a\) is obtained from \((A_H)^a\) by a specialization of \((B_H)^a\), and conversely. Thus \(\text{Alg}((B_H)^a,K)\) parametrizes the \(K\)-forms of \(H^a\), so that \((A_H)^a\) is a flat deformation of \(H^a\) over \((B_H)^a\), a noncommutative analogue of a verbal torsor. The algebras \((U_H)^a\) and \((A_H)^a\) are related by an injective \(H\)-comodule algebra morphism from \((U_H)^a\) into \((A_H)^a\), which sends the center \(Z(_H)^a\) of \((U_H)^a\) to the center \((B_H)^a\) of \((A_H)^a\) when \(H^a\) is simple (if \(H^a\) is simple, then \((A_H)^a\) is an Azumaya algebra with center \((B_H)^a\)). Under an additional assumption, \((A_H)^a\) is isomorphic to the tensor product over \((Z_H)^a\) of \((B_H)^a\) and \((U_H)^a\), so that the versal deformation space (or verbal torsor) \((A_H)^a\) is a central localization of \((U_H)^a\). Most of the results generalize the results for \(H\) a group algebra obtained by \textit{E. Aljadeff, D. Haile} and \textit{M. Natapov} [arXiv:0710.5568, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. (to appear)].