The Generalized Burnside Theorem in noncommutative deformation theory

Abstract

Let A be an associative algebra over a field, and let M be a finite family of right A-modules. Study of the noncommutative deformation functor of the family M leads to the construction of the algebra of observables and the Generalized Burnside Theorem, due to Laudal. In this paper, we give an overview of aspects of noncommutative deformations closely connected to the Generalized Burnside Theorem.