March 9, 2015
Don Passman, University of Wisconsin

Traces of Algebraic Elements in Group Algebras


Abstract:

If K[G] denotes the group algebra of G over the field K, then the trace map tr: K[G] -> K picks off the identity coefficient of each element of the ring. In this talk, I will discuss what is known about traces of algebraic elements of K[G]. Of particular interest are the traces of idempotents and nilpotent elements. If time permits, I will also consider analogous results for twisted group algebras.