# Tag Archives: separable algebra

## Example: Separability Idempotent for a Field Extension

Let $R$ be a commutative ring and let $A$ be an $R$-algebra. We say that $A$ is separable if $A$ is projective as an $A\otimes_RA^{\rm op}$-module. There is a multiplication map $\mu:A\otimes_RA^{\rm op}\to A$ given by $a\otimes a’\mapsto aa’$, whose kernel we’ll call $J$. It’s a fact that $A$ is separable if and only if […]

## Automorphisms of Matrix Rings over Fields are Inner

Let $k$ be a field. The ring $M_n(k)$ of $n\times n$ matrices over $k$ has some automorphisms, given by conjugation by elements of $\GL_n(k)$. These are inner automorphisms, and this action happens to be the adjoint action of $\GL_n$ on its Lie algebra. Are there any other automorphisms? The answer is no, and the reason […]

## Yet Another Algebra that is not Separable

Let $R$ be a commutative ring and $A$ be an $R$-algebra. We say that $A$ is a separable $R$-algebra if $A$ is projective as an $A\otimes_R A^{\rm op}$-module, where the action of $A\otimes_RA^{\rm op}$ is given by $(a\otimes a’)b = aba’$. We already showed that the ring of upper triangular matrices over a commutative ring […]

## Azumaya’s Theorem

In the last post, we saw that an upper triangular $n\times n$ matrix ring $T_n$ over a commutative ring $R$ for $n \geq 2$ is not a separable $R$-algebra. We did this by invoking the commutator theorem: if $A$ is a central separable algebra and $B$ is a separable subalgebra then $C = A^B$ is […]