Central simple algebra

In ring theory and related areas of mathematics a central simple algebra (CSA) over a field K is a finite-dimensional associative algebra A, which is simple, and for which the center is exactly K. In other words, any simple algebra is a central simple algebra over its center.

For example, the complex numbers C form a CSA over themselves, but not over the real numbers R (the center of C is all of C, not just R). The quaternions H form a 4-dimensional CSA over R, and in fact represent the only non-trivial element of the Brauer group of the reals (see below).

Given two central simple algebras A ~ M(n,S) and B ~ M(m,T) over the same field F, A and B are called similar (or Brauer equivalent) if their division rings S and T are isomorphic. The set of all equivalence classes of central simple algebras over a given field F, under this equivalence relation, can be equipped with a group operation given by the tensor product of algebras. The resulting group is called the Brauer group Br(F) of the field F.[1] It is always a torsion group.[2]

Properties

then D has a tensor product decomposition
where each component Di is a central division algebra of index , and the components are uniquely determined up to isomorphism.[11]

Splitting field

We call a field E a splitting field for A over K if AE is isomorphic to a matrix ring over E. Every finite dimensional CSA has a splitting field: indeed, in the case when A is a division algebra, then a maximal subfield of A is a splitting field. In general by theorems of Wedderburn and Koethe there is a splitting field which is a separable extension of K of degree equal to the index of A, and this splitting field is isomorphic to a subfield of A.[12][13] As an example, the field C splits the quaternion algebra H over R with

We can use the existence of the splitting field to define reduced norm and reduced trace for a CSA A.[14] Map A to a matrix ring over a splitting field and define the reduced norm and trace to be the composite of this map with determinant and trace respectively. For example, in the quaternion algebra H, the splitting above shows that the element t + x i + y j + z k has reduced norm t2 + x2 + y2 + z2 and reduced trace 2t.

The reduced norm is multiplicative and the reduced trace is additive. An element a of A is invertible if and only if its reduced norm in non-zero: hence a CSA is a division algebra if and only if the reduced norm is non-zero on the non-zero elements.[15]

Generalization

CSAs over a field K are a non-commutative analog to extension fields over K – in both cases, they have no non-trivial 2-sided ideals, and have a distinguished field in their center, though a CSA can be non-commutative and need not have inverses (need not be a division algebra). This is of particular interest in noncommutative number theory as generalizations of number fields (extensions of the rationals Q); see noncommutative number field.

See also

References

  1. Lorenz (2008) p.159
  2. Lorenz (2008) p.194
  3. Lorenz (2008) p.160
  4. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.21
  5. Lorenz (2008) p.163
  6. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.100
  7. Jacobson (1996) p.60
  8. Jacobson (1996) p.61
  9. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.104
  10. Cohn, Paul M. (2003). Further Algebra and Applications. Springer-Verlag. p. 208. ISBN 1852336676.
  11. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.105
  12. Jacobson (1996) pp.27-28
  13. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.101
  14. Gille & Szamuely (2006) pp.37-38
  15. Gille & Szamuely (2006) p.38

Further reading

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