Augmentation Ideal

In algebra, an augmentation ideal is an ideal that can be defined in any group ring. If G is a group and R a commutative ring, there is a ring homomorphism, called the augmentation map, from the group ring

to R, defined by taking a sum

to

Here r_i is an element of R and g_i an element of G. The sums are finite, by definition of the group ring. In less formal terms,

is defined as 1_R whatever the element g in G, and is then extended to a homomorphism of R-modules in the obvious way. The augmentation ideal is the kernel of, and is therefore a two-sided ideal in R. It is generated by the differences

of group elements.

Furthermore it is also generated by

which is a basis for the augmentation ideal as a free R module.

For R and G as above, the group ring R is an example of an augmented R-algebra. Such an algebra comes equipped with a ring homomorphism to R. The kernel of this homomorphism is the augmentation ideal of the algebra.

Another class of examples of augmentation ideal can be the kernel of the counit of any Hopf algebra.

The augmentation ideal plays a basic role in group cohomology, amongst other applications.