On $q$-commutative power and Laurent series rings at roots of unity

Abstract

We continue the first and second authors' study of $q$-commutative power series rings $R=k_q[[x_1,\dots ,x_n]]$ and Laurent series rings $L=k_q[[x_1^{\pm 1},\dots ,x_n^{\pm 1}]]$, specializing to the case in which the commutation parameters $q_{ij}$ are all roots of unity. In this setting, $R$ is a PI algebra, and we can apply results of De Concini, Kac, and Procesi to show that $L$ is an Azumaya algebra whose degree can be inferred from the $q_{ij}$. Our main result establishes an exact criterion (dependent on the $q_{ij}$) for determining when the centers of $L$ and $R$ are commutative Laurent series and commutative power series rings, respectively. In the event this criterion is satisfied, it follows that $L$ is a unique factorization ring in the sense of Chatters and Jordan, and it further follows, by results of Dumas, Launois, Lenagan, and Rigal, that $R$ is a unique factorization ring. We thus produce new examples of complete, local, noetherian, noncommutative, unique factorization rings (that are PI domains).