UNIT GROUPS OF CENTRAL SIMPLE ALGEBRAS AND THEIR FRATTINI SUBGROUPS

Abstract

Given a finite dimensional F-central simple algebra A = Mn(D), the connection between the Frattini subgroup Φ(A*) and Φ(F*) via Z(A'), the center of the derived group of A*, is investigated. Setting G = F* ∩ Φ(A*), it is shown that [Formula: see text] where the intersection is taken over primes p not dividing the degree of A. Furthermore, when F is a local or global field, the group G is completely determined. Using the above connection, Φ(A*) is also calculated for some particular division rings D.