In the branch of abstract algebra called ring theory, the double centralizer theorem can refer to any one of several similar results. These results concern the centralizer of a subring S of a ring R, denoted C_R(S) in this article. It is always the case that C_R(C_R(S)) contains S, and a double centralizer theorem gives conditions on R and S that guarantee that C_R(C_R(S)) is equal to S.

The centralizer of a subring S of R is given by

Clearly C_R(C_R(S)) ⊇ S, but it is not always the case that one can say the two sets are equal. The double centralizer theorems give conditions under which one can conclude that equality occurs.

There is another special case of interest. Let M be a right R module and give M the natural left E-module structure, where E is End(M), the ring of endomorphisms of the abelian group M. Every map m_r given by m_r(x) = xr creates an additive endomorphism of M, that is, an element of E. The map r → m_r is a ring homomorphism of R into the ring E, and we denote the image of R inside of E by R_M. It can be checked that the kernel of this canonical map is the annihilator Ann(M_R). Therefore, by an isomorphism theorem for rings, R_M is isomorphic to the quotient ring R/Ann(M_R). Clearly when M is a faithful module, R and R_M are isomorphic rings.

So now E is a ring with R_M as a subring, and C_E(R_M) may be formed. By definition one can check that C_E(R_M) = End(M_R), the ring of R module endomorphisms of M. Thus if it occurs that C_E(C_E(R_M)) = R_M, this is the same thing as saying C_E(End(M_R)) = R_M.

Perhaps the most common version is the version for central simple algebras, as it appears in (Knapp 2007, p.115):

Theorem: If A is a finite-dimensional central simple algebra over a field F and B is a simple subalgebra of A, then C_A(C_A(B)) = B, and moreover the dimensions satisfy

The following generalized version for Artinian rings (which include finite-dimensional algebras) appears in (Isaacs 2009, p.187). Given a simple R module U_R, we will borrow notation from the above motivation section including R_U and E=End(U). Additionally, we will write D=End(U_R) for the subring of E consisting of R-homomorphisms. By Schur's lemma, D is a division ring.

Theorem: Let R be a right Artinian ring with a simple right module U_R, and let R_U, D and E be given as in the previous paragraph. Then

.

Remarks

• In this version, the rings are chosen with the intent of proving the Jacobson density theorem. Notice that it only concludes that a particular subring has the centralizer property, in contrast to the central simple algebra version.
• Since algebras are normally defined over commutative rings, and all the involved rings above may be noncommutative, it's clear that algebras are not necessarily involved.
• If U is additionally a faithful module, so that R is a right primitive ring, then R_U is ring isomorphic to R.

In (Rowen 1980, p.154), a version is given for polynomial identity rings. The notation Z(R) will be used to denote the center of a ring R.

Theorem: If R is a simple polynomial identity ring, and A is a simple Z(R) subalgebra of R, then C_R(C_R(A)) = A.

Remarks

• This version can be considered to be "between" the central simple algebra version and the Artinian ring version. This is because simple polynomial identity rings are Artinian,^[1] but unlike the Artinian version, the conclusion still refers to all central simple subrings of R.

The Von Neumann bicommutant theorem states that a *-subalgebra A of the algebra of bounded operators B(H) on a Hilbert space H is a von Neumann algebra (i.e. is weakly closed) if and only if A = C_B(H)C_B(H)(A).

A module M is said to have the double centralizer property or to be a balanced module if C_E(C_E(R_M)) = R_M, where E = End(M) and R_M are as given in the motivation section. In this terminology, the Artinian ring version of the double centralizer theorem states that simple right modules for right Artinian rings are balanced modules.

• Isaacs, I. Martin (2009), Algebra: a graduate course, Graduate Studies in Mathematics, vol. 100, Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society, pp. xii+516, ISBN 978-0-8218-4799-2, MR 2472787 Reprint of the 1994 original
• Knapp, Anthony W. (2007), Advanced algebra, Cornerstones, Boston, MA: Birkhäuser Boston Inc., pp. xxiv+730, ISBN 978-0-8176-4522-9, MR 2360434
• Rowen, Louis Halle (1980), Polynomial identities in ring theory, Pure and Applied Mathematics, vol. 84, New York: Academic Press Inc. [Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers], pp. xx+365, ISBN 0-12-599850-3, MR 0576061