A centralizer as an algebra over a commutative subalgebra #
If S is a commutative subalgebra of A, its centralizer C is naturally an
S-algebra. Subalgebras of C over S correspond to subalgebras of A over the
original base containing S and contained in C. The correspondence preserves
the underlying elements and records the degree multiplication in a field tower.
This permits enlargement of subfields inside a division algebra: an extension constructed in the centralizer is transported back to a subalgebra of the original algebra containing the original subfield.
References #
- R. S. Pierce, Associative Algebras, Springer GTM 88 (1982), Chapter 13.
A commutative subalgebra acts on its centralizer by multiplication.
The structure map from a commutative subalgebra to its centralizer is inclusion.
The scalar action on the centralizer is multiplication in the ambient algebra.
The centralizer's action by the commutative subalgebra extends its original base action.
Subalgebras of a centralizer over its commutative scalar subalgebra correspond to ambient subalgebras lying between the scalar subalgebra and its centralizer.
Instances For
The forward correspondence restricts scalars and includes into the ambient algebra.
An element of the centralizer belongs to the transported subalgebra exactly
when it belongs to the original subalgebra over S.
The inverse correspondence tests ambient membership after including the centralizer.
The scalar subalgebra corresponds to the bottom subalgebra of the centralizer over S.
The whole centralizer corresponds to the top subalgebra over S.
A nontrivial extension inside the centralizer gives a strict enlargement of the original scalar subalgebra inside the ambient algebra.
The transported subalgebra has the dimension prescribed by the scalar tower. In particular, for subfields this is multiplication of extension degrees.