6533b85efe1ef96bd12c066f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Unitary units and skew elements in group algebras

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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.