Noncommutative discriminants via Poisson primes

Abstract

We present a general method for computing discriminants of noncommutative algebras. It builds a connection with Poisson geometry and expresses the discriminants as products of Poisson primes. The method is applicable to algebras obtained by specialization from families, such as quantum algebras at roots of unity. It is illustrated with the specializations of the algebras of quantum matrices at roots of unity and more generally all quantum Schubert cell algebras.

arXiv comment30 pages, AMS Latex. Final version; accepted for Advances in Mathematics