Group-graded rings satisfying the strong rank condition

Abstract

A ring $R$ satisfies the {\it strong rank condition} (SRC) if, for every natural number $n$, the free $R$-submodules of $R^n$ all have rank $\le n$. Let $G$ be a group and $R$ a ring strongly graded by $G$ such that the base ring $R_1$ is a domain. Using an argument originated by Laurent Bartholdi for studying cellular automata, we prove that $R$ satisfies SRC if and only if $R_1$ satisfies SRC and $G$ is amenable. The special case of this result for group rings allows us to prove a characterization of amenability involving the group von Neumann algebra that was conjectured by Wolfgang Lück. In addition, we include two applications to the study of group rings and their modules.

14 pages, to appear in J. Algebra