Factorization and the Half-Factorial Property

Jim Coykendall — Clemson University

The notion of unique factorization is central in commutative algebra and number theory (with very important ramifications spilling over into almost every branch of mathematics). In general, “factorization” may be considered the study of the multiplicative decomposition(s) of elements in a ring (usually an integral domain for our purposes), and generalizations of unique factorization are of much interest.

One of the most infamous generalizations of unique factorization is the half-factorial property. Loosely speaking, a half-factorial domain is an integral domain in which elements may not factor uniquely, but any two decompositions of the same nonzero element into irreducibles will have the same number of irreducibles involved (counting possible multiplicities). The aim of this talk will be to give an overview of this generalization of unique factorization from its inception through some very recent results. Along the way, the talk will be seasoned and flavored with many examples comparing and contrasting the half-factorial property with the more familiar notion of unique factorization. Graduate students are especially encouraged to have their lives changed by this talk!