The noncommutative geometry of matrix polynomial algebras

Abstract

This work investigates the noncommutative affine geometry of matrix polynomial algebra extensions of a coefficient algebra by (elementary) matrix variables. A precise description of the spectrum (of maximal one-sided or bilateral ideals) of general matrix algebras is required. It results that the Zariski space of the irreducible representations of a matrix algebra is obtained by a natural gluing of the Zariski spaces of the irreducible representations of its diagonal components. An important step for the geometry of matrix polynomial algebras in commuting variables is achieved by a generalization of the Amitsur–Small Nullstellensatz, from which follows a precise description of their primitive quotients. We also characterize which of them are geometric algebras (in the sense of noncommutative deformation theory), reconstructible as algebras of observables from the scheme of irreducible representations. We then prove that each diagonal component of a matrix polynomial algebra in commuting variables is a Jacobson ring, whose non-Noetherian commutative geometry is efficiently described by the geometry of an affine essential subextension. And in the spirit of nonlocal algebraic geometry and addressing an open question by Charlie Beil, we obtain a class of non-Noetherian commutative monoid rings admitting closed points with positive geometric dimension.