Semisimple Tensor Product of Fields

In summary, a semisimple tensor product of fields is a mathematical operation that combines two fields into a new field. It has properties such as commutativity, associativity, and distributivity, and is primarily used in the study of algebra and geometry. Examples of semisimple tensor product of fields include the complex numbers and the rational numbers. However, it has limitations such as only being applicable to commutative fields and the possibility of not being well-defined.
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Let ##L/k## be a field extension. Suppose ##F## is a finite separable extension of ##k##. Prove ##L\otimes_k F## is a semisimple algebra over ##k##.
 
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By the primitive element theorem, ##F = k(\alpha)## for some ##\alpha\in F## separable over ##k##. Let ##f(x)## be the minimal polynomial of ##\alpha## over ##k##. In ##L[x]##, ##f(x)## is the product of distinct irreducibles ##f_1(x),\ldots, f_d(x)##. Hence $$L\otimes_k F \simeq L\otimes_k \frac{k[x]}{(f(x))} \simeq \frac{L[x]}{(f(x))} \simeq \bigoplus_{j = 1}^d\frac{L[x]}{(f_j(x))}$$ is a direct sum of fields. Thus ##L\otimes_k F## is semisimple.
 
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1. What is a semisimple tensor product of fields?

A semisimple tensor product of fields is a mathematical concept that combines two fields to create a new field. It is a type of tensor product where the resulting field is semisimple, meaning it can be decomposed into a direct sum of simple fields.

2. What are the properties of a semisimple tensor product of fields?

A semisimple tensor product of fields has the following properties:

  • It is associative, meaning the order in which the fields are multiplied does not matter.
  • It is commutative, meaning the order of the fields can be switched without changing the result.
  • It is distributive, meaning it follows the distributive property of multiplication over addition.

3. How is a semisimple tensor product of fields calculated?

The semisimple tensor product of fields is calculated by taking the tensor product of the individual fields and then applying a special decomposition algorithm called the Wedderburn decomposition. This algorithm breaks down the resulting field into a direct sum of simple fields.

4. What are some applications of semisimple tensor product of fields?

Semisimple tensor product of fields has various applications in mathematics and physics. It is used in representation theory to study the structure of groups and algebras. It also has applications in quantum mechanics, where it is used to describe the behavior of composite systems.

5. How does a semisimple tensor product of fields differ from a simple tensor product of fields?

A semisimple tensor product of fields is a special case of a simple tensor product of fields. The main difference is that the resulting field in a semisimple tensor product can be decomposed into a direct sum of simple fields, while a simple tensor product does not have this property. Additionally, the Wedderburn decomposition algorithm is only applicable to semisimple tensor products.

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