Factorization theory: From commutative to noncommutative settings

Abstract: We study the non-uniqueness of factorizations of non zero-divisors into atoms (irreducibles) in noncommutative rings. To do so, we extend concepts from the commutative theory of non-unique factorizations to a noncommutative setting. Several notions of factorizations as well as distances between them are introduced. In addition, arithmetical invariants characterizing the non-uniqueness of factorizations such as the catenary degree, the $\omega$-invariant, and the tame degree, are extended from commutative to noncommutative settings. We introduce the concept of a cancellative semigroup being permutably factorial, and characterize this property by means of corresponding catenary and tame degrees. Also, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for there to be a weak transfer homomorphism from a cancellative semigroup to its reduced abelianization. Applying the abstract machinery we develop, we determine various catenary degrees for classical maximal orders in central simple algebras over global fields by using a natural transfer homomorphism to a monoid of zero-sum sequences over a ray class group. We also determine catenary degrees and the permutable tame degree for the semigroup of non zero-divisors of the ring of $n \times n$ upper triangular matrices over a commutative domain using a weak transfer homomorphism to a commutative semigroup.