On the lower central series of an associative algebra (with an appendix by Pavel Etingof). (Q947518)

If \(A\) is an associative algebra define \(L_1(A)\) as a span of all commutators \([a,b]=ab-ba\). By induction put \(L_{i+1}=[A,L_i(A)]\) and \(B_i(A)=L_i(A)/L_{i-1}(A)\). The authors consider the case when \(A\) is generated by \(n\) elements \(x_1,\dots,x_n\) with defining relations \(x_i^{m_i}=0\), \(1\leqslant i\leqslant n\). The main result of the paper is the construction of a linear base of \(B_2,B_3,B_4\) in several cases as commutators of appropriate monomials in \(x_1,\dots,x_n\). Some results determine the module structure of \(B_2,B_3,B_4\) over Lie algebras \(W_n\) of vector fields. The appendix written by P. Etingof contains another approach to the definition of \(B_2\) for any associative algebra \(A\) and its connections with an algebra of regular differential forms on a smooth variety which is related to \(A\).