How a nonassociative algebra reflects the properties of a skew polynomial

Abstract

Let $S$ be a unital associative ring and $S[t;\sigma,\delta]$ be a skew polynomial ring, where $\sigma$ is an injective endomorphism of $S$ and $\delta$ a left $\sigma$-derivation. For each $f\in S[t;\sigma,\delta]$ of degree $m>1$ with a unit as leading coefficient, we construct a unital nonassociative algebra whose behaviour reflects the properties of $f$. The algebras obtained yield canonical examples of right division algebras when $f$ is irreducible. We investigate the structure of these algebras. The structure of their right nucleus depends on the choice of $f$. In the classical literature, this nucleus appears as the eigenspace of $f$, and is used to investigate the irreducible factors of $f$. We give necessary and sufficient criteria for skew polynomials of low degree to be irreducible.