Star-polynomial identities: computing the exponential growth of the codimensions

Abstract Can one compute the exponential rate of growth of the ⁎-codimensions of a PI-algebra with involution ⁎ over a field of characteristic zero? It was shown in [2] that any such algebra A has the same ⁎-identities as the Grassmann envelope of a finite dimensional superalgebra with superinvolution B. Here, by exploiting this result we are able to provide an exact estimate of the exponential rate of growth e x p ⁎ ( A ) of any PI-algebra A with involution. It turns out that e x p ⁎ ( A ) is an integer and, in case the base field is algebraically closed, it coincides with the dimension of an admissible subalgebra of maximal dimension of B.

Group algebras of torsion groups and Lie nilpotence

Letbe an involution of a group algebra FG induced by an involution of the group G. For char F 0 2, we classify the torsion groups G with no elements of order 2 whose Lie al- gebra of � -skew elements is nilpotent.

Group identities on unit groups of group algebras

Free groups and involutions in the unit group of a group algebra

Unitary units and skew elements in group algebras

Let FG be the group algebra of a group G over a field F and let * denote the canonical involution of FG induced by the map g→g −1 ,gG. Let Un(FG)={uFG|uu * =1} be the group of unitary units of FG. In case char F=0, we classify the torsion groups G for which Un(FG) satisfies a group identity not vanishing on 2-elements. Along the way we actually prove that, in characteristic 0, the unitary group Un(FG) does not contain a free group of rank 2 if FG − , the Lie algebra of skew elements of FG, is Lie nilpotent. Motivated by this connection we characterize most groups G for which FG − is Lie nilpotent and char F≠2.

Cocharacters of group graded algebras and multiplicities bounded by one

Let G be a finite group and A a G-graded algebra over a field F of characteristic zero. We characterize the (Formula presented.)-ideals (Formula presented.) of graded identities of A such that the multiplicities (Formula presented.) in the graded cocharacter of A are bounded by one. We do so by exhibiting a set of identities of the (Formula presented.)-ideal. As a consequence we characterize the varieties of G-graded algebras whose lattice of subvarieties is distributive.