The universality of Hughes-free division rings

Abstract

AbstractLet $$E*G$$ E ∗ G be a crossed product of a division ring E and a locally indicable group G. Hughes showed that up to $$E*G$$ E ∗ G -isomorphism, there exists at most one Hughes-free division $$E*G$$ E ∗ G -ring. However, the existence of a Hughes-free division $$E*G$$ E ∗ G -ring $${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$ D E ∗ G for an arbitrary locally indicable group G is still an open question. Nevertheless, $${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$ D E ∗ G exists, for example, if G is amenable or G is bi-orderable. In this paper we study, whether $${\mathcal {D}}_{E*G}$$ D E ∗ G is the universal division ring of fractions in some of these cases. In particular, we show that if G is a residually-(locally indicable and amenable) group, then there exists $${\mathcal {D}}_{E[G]}$$ D E [ G ] and it is universal. In Appendix we give a description of $${\mathcal {D}}_{E[G]}$$ D E [ G ] when G is a RFRS group.