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Give both position and differentiation generators of a Weyl algebra degree one. The ordered monomial basis gives $\dim F_j{A}_n=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{j+2n}{2n}\right)$ and ${\mathrm{gr}}_F{A}_n$ equal to a polynomial ring in $2n$ variables. Commuting a filtered element with any generator lowers its degree by at least one.

For a nonzero finitely generated Weyl algebra module, choose a finite-dimensional generating subspace $M_0$. Under the Bernstein filtration, $\dim (F_j{A}_n{M}_0)$ is eventually polynomial because the graded module is finite over a polynomial ring. Its degree is independent of the generating subspace, since two generating filtrations bound each other after fixed shifts. It equals the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module.

For a nonzero finitely generated module over the complex Weyl algebra $A_n$, its Bernstein growth dimension of a Weyl algebra module is at least $n$. The faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra gives $\dim F_j{A}_n\le (\dim M_j)(\dim M_{2j})$. Comparing degrees $2n$ and $2d(M)$ proves the inequality. The polynomial module has dimension $n$, so the bound is sharp. This is an algebraic growth inequality, distinct from probabilistic Bernstein inequalities.

For a ring $D$, an automorphism $\sigma$ and central $t$, adjoin $X,Y$ with $Xd=\sigma (d)X$, $Yd={\sigma }^{-1}(d)Y$, $YX=t$ and $XY=\sigma (t)$. This construction includes Weyl algebras and rank-one universal enveloping algebras.

A nonzero finitely generated Weyl algebra module over $A_n(\mathbb{C})$ is holonomic when it attains the lower bound in the Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules. The zero module is also conventionally called holonomic. Nonzero subquotients of a holonomic module remain holonomic. Additivity and integrality of the leading Hilbert-polynomial multiplicity then bound the number of nonzero factors in any submodule chain, giving finite composition length.

Fix the Bernstein filtration on the Weyl algebra. Two good filtrations of a module are bounded shifts of one another: $F_{i}M\subseteq G_{i+c}M$ and conversely. If an operator of degree $d$ has symbol annihilating ${\mathrm{gr}}_{F}M$, its $r$th power lowers the expected filtration degree by $r$. For $r>2c$, comparison of filtrations forces the same power of its symbol to annihilate ${\mathrm{gr}}_{G}M$. Reversing the roles gives equality of the radical annihilator ideals and hence equality of support of a module. The algebra filtration is held fixed; changing between order and Bernstein filtrations need not preserve the same variety.

An Ore extension uses a unital endomorphism $\sigma$ of $A$ and a $\sigma$-derivation $\delta$, satisfying $\delta (ab)=\sigma (a)\delta (b)+\delta (a)b$. Its elements have unique expressions ${\sum }_i{a}_i{t}^i$ and multiplication is determined by the displayed relation. Applying the relation to $t(ab)$ shows why the endomorphism and derivation conditions are exactly the compatibility conditions for associativity. A differential Ore extension has $\sigma =\mathrm{id}$. Adjoining ordinary partial derivatives successively to a polynomial ring gives the ordered-monomial construction of a Weyl algebra.

Work over $\mathbb{C}$, or another field of characteristic zero. The Weyl algebra $A_n$ is generated by $x_1,\dots ,x_n,{\partial }_1,\dots ,{\partial }_n$ with commuting $x$'s, commuting $\partial$'s and $[{\partial }_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$. Its ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra consists of the monomials $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. One way to verify independence is to apply a finite operator relation to the formal exponential $e^{\mathbf{t}\cdot \mathbf{x}}$: after canceling that exponential the relation becomes a polynomial identity $\sum c_{\alpha \beta }{\mathbf{x}}^{\alpha }{\mathbf{t}}^{\beta }=0$, so every coefficient vanishes. The relations already reorder every word into that basis.

Give both generators degree one. The Bernstein filtration isThus $\dim F_m{A}_n=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{m+2n}{2n}\right)$. Commutator terms have lower degree, accounting for the commutative symbol algebra. Since that algebra is Noetherian, leading-symbol generation followed by finite downward degree cancellation proves that $A_n$ is Noetherian on both sides.

A left finitely generated module $M$ has a good filtration, for example $M_m={\sum }_j{F}_m{A}_n{m}_j$ for a finite generating set of the module. More generally one allows fixed degree shifts of the generators. The associated graded module is finite over the symbol algebra. DefineThis is the characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module for the Bernstein algebra filtration. It records where the module's leading symbols remain nonzero and makes noncommutative module growth accessible to commutative algebra.

For a fixed algebra filtration it is independent of the good filtration. Any two such filtrations differ by bounded shifts $M_i\subseteq {\tilde{M}}_{i+c}$ and conversely, since each finite set of generators occurs in bounded degree in the other filtration. If a degree-$d$ operator has symbol annihilating $\mathrm{gr}M$, its $r$th power maps $M_i$ into $M_{i+rd-r}$. For $r>2c$, bounded-shift comparison forces the power of that symbol to annihilate $\mathrm{gr}\tilde{M}$. Reversing the argument gives equal radicals of ideals of annihilators. This is independence of characteristic support from a good module filtration. Changing the algebra filtration itself, for example to the order filtration of a Weyl algebra with the $x_i$ in degree zero, need not preserve the same variety; the convention matters.

The Hilbert-Serre theorem gives an eventual cumulative polynomialHere $d$ is also the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module, and $e(M)>0$ is an integer multiplicity of a filtered module for nonzero $M$. Finite generation bounds $d\le 2n$.

Here is a proof sketch of the essential lower bound, rather than an appeal to its name. For a nonzero $f\in F_m{A}_n$, choose a nonzero monomial of greatest total degree in its ordered expansion, say $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. The operations $\mathrm{ad}{\partial }_i$ and $\mathrm{ad}(-x_i)$ differentiate this expansion with respect to $x_i$ and ${\partial }_i$. Apply them ${\alpha }_i$ and ${\beta }_i$ times. Lower-degree terms die, and every other monomial of the same degree also dies unless it has exactly those exponents. The result is a nonzero scalar multiple of the chosen coefficient. Characteristic zero is essential for the factorials. Expanding the repeated commutators therefore givesChoose $0\ne v\in M_0$. If $f$ acted as zero on all $M_m$, every $f{v}_{j}v$ would vanish, contrary to $v={\sum }_j{u}_{j}f{v}_{j}v$. Hence the linear action mapis injective. It follows that $\dim F_m{A}_n\le (\dim M_m)(\dim M_{2m})$. Comparing polynomial degrees gives $2n\le 2d$. ThusThis proves Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules through the faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra.

The bound is sharp. The polynomial representation $\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]\cong A_n/{\sum }_i{A}_n{\partial }_i$ has the zero section as its characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module, namely $\xi =0$ and dimension $n$. It is a simple module: differentiate a nonzero polynomial sufficiently to obtain a nonzero constant, then multiply by the $x_i$ to generate the whole module. The module $A_n/{\sum }_i{A}_n{x}_i$ similarly has characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module $x=0$, a fiber of the cotangent bundle. A nonzero free module has the whole cotangent bundle and dimension $2n$. No nonzero finite-dimensional module exists for $n\ge 1$, also seen by taking the trace of $[{\partial }_1,x_1]=I$.

Modules attaining dimension $n$ are holonomic Weyl algebra modules (with the zero module included conventionally). Every nonzero subquotient remains of dimension $n$ by the lower bound and monotonicity of growth. Compatible filtrations in a short exact sequence make the leading multiplicity of a filtered module additive. Since each nonzero factor has positive integer multiplicity of a filtered module, the number of factors in any strict submodule chain is bounded by $e(M)$. Together with Noetherianity, this proves finite composition length. It illustrates why characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module and multiplicity of a filtered module provide useful structure beyond a list of presentations. In positive characteristic there are finite-dimensional Weyl modules, so the characteristic-zero inequality and this discussion must not be asserted without its field hypothesis.

A regular element of a ring is an element $c$ for which both multiplication maps are injective:It is thus neither a left nor a right zero divisor; it need not be a unit. Here “ideals” means two-sided ideals. Put $A=A_n(\mathbb{C})$, and let $T_2(A)$ denote the specified upper triangular ring.

We first establish the additional facts about the Weyl algebra needed below. Its generators satisfyReordering gives a spanning set $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. These monomials are independent. Indeed, represent the generators by multiplication and differentiation on $\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$. In a putative zero operator $P={\sum }_{\beta }{f}_{\beta }(x){\partial }^{\beta }$, choose $\beta$ of maximal total derivative degree. Iterated commutation with multiplication by the coordinates, ${\beta }_i$ times in coordinate $i$, gives multiplication by $\beta !f_{\beta }(x)$. All other derivative terms of that total degree disappear unless they have exactly the same multiindex, and lower-degree terms disappear. Thus $f_{\beta }=0$, and descending induction eliminates all coefficients. This proves the ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra and faithfulness of its polynomial action.

The Weyl algebra is a simple ring. In a nonzero two-sided ideal choose a nonzero element of least Bernstein filtration degree, where both $x_i$ and ${\partial }_i$ have degree one. Commuting it with any generator stays in the ideal and lowers that degree. Minimality therefore makes all these commutators zero. Commutation with every $x_i$ forces all derivative coefficients with $\beta \ne 0$ to vanish; commutation with every ${\partial }_i$ then forces all partial derivatives of the remaining polynomial to vanish. In characteristic zero the element is a nonzero scalar. The ideal consequently contains $1$. This proves simplicity of a Weyl algebra in characteristic zero. Its Jacobson radical is zero, since the radical is a proper two-sided ideal of a nonzero unital simple ring.

Use the two diagonal idempotents to isolate the entries of any ideal of $T_2(A)$. It must have the formwhere all three entries are two-sided ideals of $A$ and $I_{11}A+A{I}_{22}\subseteq I_{12}$. Conversely this condition makes the indicated set an ideal. Simplicity says that each $I_{ij}$ is $0$ or $A$, and either nonzero diagonal entry forces $I_{12}=A$. Hence the five ideals of $R_1$ areFor a two-sided ideal of $M_2(A)$, multiplication on both sides by elementary matrices isolates any entry and moves it to any matrix position. The entries obtained form one two-sided ideal $I$ of $A$, and the original ideal is $M_2(I)$. Thus the only ideals of $R_2$ are $0$ and $R_2$.

Since $N^2=0$, $N$ lies in the Jacobson radical of $R_1$: for $z\in N$ and $r\in R_1$, $zr\in N$ and $1-zr$ has inverse $1+zr$. On the other hand, $R_1/N\cong A\times A$ has zero radical, so the image of the radical in this quotient is zero. The elementary unit criterion for the Jacobson radical justifies both assertions. ThereforeThe second equality follows from simplicity of $R_2$.

We now construct the denominators used to describe regular matrices. A left Noetherian noncommutative domain satisfies the left Ore condition. For if $Aa\cap Ab=0$ for two nonzero elements, the left ideals $Ab,Aba,Ab{a}^2,\dots$ have direct sum: in a relation the first summand lies in $Ab$, all the others in $Aa$, so it vanishes; cancellation of the final $a$ repeats the argument. Their finite partial sums form a strictly ascending chain, contradicting left Noetherianity. Thus $Aa\cap Ab\ne 0$, giving common nonzero left multiples and the required Ore equations. The analogous argument with right ideals gives the right Ore condition under right Noetherianity. Both hypotheses for $A$ are allowed in the question.

The Ore localization therefore embeds $A$ in a division ring $Q$. Briefly, its elements are left fractions $a^{-1}b$, with nonzero $a$, and two fractions are identified after passing to a common left denominator. Common multiples supply addition and multiplication, while cancellation in the domain makes the embedding injective. A nonzero fraction has an inverse, obtained by interchanging its numerator and denominator in the appropriate Ore fraction calculation. The right fraction construction gives the same division ring, so finite lists have common left and common right denominators.

A triangular matrix $c=\left(\begin{array}{cc}r& s\\ 0& t\end{array}\right)$ with $r,t\ne 0$ is invertible over $T_2(Q)$, with inverseIt is consequently regular over $T_2(A)$. If $r=0$, then $c{E}_{11}=0$; if $t=0$, then $E_{22}c=0$. Hence

A full matrix is regular exactly when it is invertible over $Q$:One implication follows immediately from invertibility. Conversely, a singular matrix over a division ring has a nonzero right kernel column and a nonzero left kernel row, by row reduction. A common right denominator turns the column into a nonzero column over $A$, providing a right annihilator matrix over $A$. A common left denominator does the same for the row and gives a left annihilator. Thus a singular matrix is not regular. Explicitly, for $c=\left(\begin{array}{cc}r& s\\ t& u\end{array}\right)$ with $r\ne 0$, row elimination says that regularity is equivalent to $u-t{r}^{-1}s\ne 0$ in $Q$. If $r=0$, it is equivalent to both $s\ne 0$ and $t\ne 0$. A commutative determinant formula must not be substituted here.

Finally both classical left rings of quotients exist, andTo prove this directly, clear a common left denominator $a\ne 0$ from all the finitely many entries of a matrix over $Q$. It becomes $(a{I}_2{)}^{-1}b$ with $b$ in the original triangular or full ring and $a{I}_2$ regular. Every original regular element becomes a unit in the corresponding ring over $Q$, by the descriptions above. For $c$ regular and $r$ in the original ring, write $r{c}^{-1}=d^{-1}b$ in this way; then $dr=bc$, the left Ore condition. Since the denominators are regular, the additional annihilator condition for localization is automatic. This proves the matrix and triangular localization over an Ore domain assertions. In particular, the nonzero nilpotent radical of the triangular ring does not prevent its classical localization; that localization retains the triangular radical.

A precise version of the Hilbert-Serre theorem is as follows. Let $R={⨁}_{j\ge 0}{R}_j$ be a commutative graded ring, generated over an Artinian degree-zero ring $R_0$ by homogeneous elements $y_1,\dots ,y_s$ of positive degrees $d_1,\dots ,d_s$. Let $M$ be a finitely generated graded module, bounded below. Each component has finite module length over $R_0$. Its Poincare series of a graded module, or Hilbert series, isWhen $R_0$ is a field, these lengths are dimensions. The theorem assertsFor a nonnegatively graded module the numerator can be taken in $\mathbb{Z}[t]$. The finite-generation and finite-length hypotheses specify the meaning of the series; they are part of the theorem's statement.

We prove it by induction on $s$. Regard $M$ as a finite graded module over $S=R_0[Y_1,\dots ,Y_s]$, with $\mathrm{deg}{Y}_i=d_i$, acting through the specified generators of $R$. This polynomial ring is Noetherian by the Hilbert basis theorem and Question 1. When $s=0$, finitely many homogeneous generators over $R_0$ mean that only finitely many components are nonzero, so the series is a Laurent polynomial. For the induction step, put $y=Y_s$, $d=d_s$, $K=(0{:}_{M}y)$ and $C=M/yM$. Both $K$ and $C$ are finite graded modules; $y$ annihilates them, so they are modules over $R_0[Y_1,\dots ,Y_{s-1}]$. The finite generation of $K$ uses Noetherianity of $S$.

The exact sequence of graded modulesgives, by additivity of component lengths,Here the shift is defined so that $P_{M(-d)}=t^d{P}_M$. By induction both series on the right have denominator ${\prod }_{i<s}(1-t^{d_i})$. Dividing by $1-t^d$ proves the result. The annihilator term cannot be omitted unless multiplication by $y$ is injective.

In the standard grading $d_i=1$, the coefficients of $(1-t{)}^{-s}$ are $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{j+s-1}{s-1}\right)$. Multiplying by the finite numerator shows that the component dimensions agree with a polynomial for sufficiently large $j$. Cumulative dimensions have generating function $P_M(t)/(1-t)$ and are also eventually polynomial. This consequence supplies the dimension used for Weyl algebra modules.

Use the Bernstein filtration $B_m{A}_n$, in which both coordinate generators and differentiation generators have degree one. The ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra givesChoose a finite-dimensional generating subspace $M_0$ of a nonzero finitely generated left module $M$ and set $M_m=B_m{A}_n{M}_0$. This is a good filtration of a module: the symbols of the generators generate its associated graded module over the displayed polynomial ring. The Hilbert-Serre theorem makes ${\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}{M}_m$ an eventual polynomial. Define the Bernstein growth dimension of a Weyl algebra module byThe dimension is independent of the chosen finite generating subspace. Each of two finite generating sets is contained in a fixed filtration step for the other, giving $M_m\subseteq M_{m+c}^{\prime }$ and $M_m^{\prime }\subseteq M_{m+c^{\prime }}$. Such fixed shifts preserve the degree of growth. The same argument applies to any good Bernstein filtration. This dimension agrees with the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module; one may set $d(0)=-\infty$.

Let the nonconstant element $D$ have Bernstein degree $d\ge 1$. Since ${\mathrm{gr}}_B{A}_n$ is a domain, the product of two nonzero symbols cannot vanish. HenceRight multiplication by $D$ is injective, using the domain property of $A_n$. Thus the quotient filtration on $M=A_n/A_{n}D$ has cumulative dimensionsThe leading terms of degree $2n$ cancel, and the leading surviving term isIt is nonzero, because $d\ge 1$. ThereforeEquivalently the Hilbert series of the associated graded quotient is $(1-t^d)/(1-t{)}^{2n}$. Here $d$ is Bernstein degree, not differential order: multiplication by $x_1$ has differential order zero but Bernstein degree one. Using the order filtration in this dimension argument would lose the finite-dimensional filtration pieces.

The base ring must be specified in the algebraic definition. For a commutative $k$-algebra $R$, work in ${\mathrm{End}}_k(R)$ and let $m_f$ mean multiplication by $f\in R$. Set $D_k^{-1}(R)=0$ and define recursivelyThese are the operators of order at most $i$. The order of a nonzero differential operator relative to a base ring is the least $i$ for which it belongs to $D_k^i(R)$; the zero operator can be assigned order $-\infty$. An operator of order zero commutes with all multiplications and is itself multiplication by $P(1)$, so $D_k^0(R)=R$. The union $D_k(R)={\bigcup }_{i\ge 0}{D}_k^i(R)$ is the ring of finite-order operators, with composition as multiplication. The identityand induction on the sum of orders give $D_k^p{D}_k^q\subseteq D_k^{p+q}$. Sums have order at most the maximum of their orders, proving that this union is a ring.

For an arbitrary commutative ring, the absolute version uses $k=\mathbb{Z}$, so the ambient endomorphisms are additive. For the polynomial ring in this question, the intended Weyl-algebra identification is the relative one with $k=\mathbb{C}$. Absolute operators would also include nonzero derivations of the coefficient field $\mathbb{C}$: a derivation on a rational function field in a transcendence basis over $\mathbb{Q}$ extends to its algebraic closure in characteristic zero, and hence to $\mathbb{C}$. Extending it coefficientwise to $\mathbb{C}[x]$ gives an order-one additive operator which is not complex-linear. Such an operator cannot belong to the complex Weyl algebra. This explains why the linearity convention matters.

Now take $R=\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$. Coordinate multiplication has order zero, and each partial derivative ${\partial }_i$ has order one because $[{\partial }_i,m_f]=m_{{\partial }_{i}f}$. They satisfy the defining Weyl algebra relations, giving an algebra homomorphism $A_n\to D_{\mathbb{C}}(R)$. Reordering spans $A_n$ by $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. If an ordered expression acted as zero, commutation with the coordinates according to a maximal derivative multiindex would give multiplication by $\beta !f_{\beta }(x)=0$; removing the top coefficients successively proves that every coefficient is zero. Thus the homomorphism is injective, as in the ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra proof.

For surjectivity, let $P$ have order at most $m$, and put ${\delta }_{i}P=[P,m_{x_i}]$. The operations ${\delta }_i$ commute, since the coordinate multiplications commute. A product of more than $m$ of them kills $P$. Define polynomial coefficientsCommuting $P$ through $m_{x^{\alpha }}$ repeatedly gives the finite identityIt follows by induction on $|\alpha |$ from $P{m}_{x_i}=m_{x_i}P+{\delta }_{i}P$ and Pascal's identity. Terms with $|\beta |>m$ vanish. Sincefor $\beta \le \alpha$, we obtain $P(x^{\alpha })={\sum }_{|\beta |\le m}{a}_{\beta }(x){\partial }^{\beta }(x^{\alpha })$. The monomials are a complex basis of $R$, so complex linearity yields equality of the operators on all of $R$. HenceFor a nonzero ordered expression ${\sum }_{\beta }{a}_{\beta }(x){\partial }^{\beta }$, its order is exactly ${\max }_{a_{\beta }\ne 0}|\beta |$. The upper bound follows from composition; the lower bound follows by taking that many coordinate commutators to extract a nonzero multiplication operator. This describes the order filtration of a Weyl algebra:

The associated graded ring is thereforeThe symbol of ${\partial }_i$ is ${\xi }_i$. In a product of ordered operators, moving derivatives past coefficients introduces terms of lower differential order. Thus top-order symbols multiply as ordinary polynomials, and the ordered basis proves there are no further relations. In particular $[D^p,D^q]\subseteq D^{p+q-1}$, with $D^{-1}=0$: the top-order symbols of the two products agree and cancel. Unlike the Bernstein filtration, the order filtration's degree-zero part is the entire polynomial ring and its pieces are infinite-dimensional over $\mathbb{C}$.

Form the Rees ring of a filtered algebraThe central element $h$ is a non-zero-divisor. This ring is generated by $h$, the $x_i$, and $y_i=h{\partial }_i$, withIts quotient modulo $h$ is the associated graded ring just computed. Explicitly the degree-$m$ component of $h\mathcal{A}$ is $D^{m-1}{h}^m$, so the degree-$m$ quotient is $D^m/D^{m-1}$. The quotient modulo $h-1$ recovers $A_n$.

Since $\mathcal{A}/h\mathcal{A}$ is commutative, any two lifts $F,G\in \mathcal{A}$ of symbols have $[F,G]\in h\mathcal{A}$. DefineDivision by $h$ is unique because $h$ is a non-zero-divisor. If $F$ is replaced by $F+hU$, the quotient changes by $[U,G]$, which is zero modulo $h$; changing $G$ works the same way. Thus the bracket is well defined. Antisymmetry and bilinearity follow from the commutator. The identity $[F,GH]=[F,G]H+G[F,H]$ proves the Leibniz rule. For the Jacobi identity, lift each inner bracket by $[G,H]/h$; the cyclic sum of the outer expressions is the commutator Jacobi identity divided by $h^2$, hence zero. These verifications prove that the graded polynomial ring is a Poisson algebra. This is the Poisson bracket from a central deformation parameter construction.

The generators give $\{{\xi }_i,x_j\}={\delta }_{ij}$ and all coordinate-coordinate and symbol-symbol brackets zero. The Leibniz rule therefore determines the answer on every polynomial:The sign here follows the chosen convention $[P,Q]=PQ-QP$: in particular $\{{\xi }_i,x_j\}={\delta }_{ij}$, rather than $\{x_i,{\xi }_j\}={\delta }_{ij}$. For homogeneous symbols the bracket has order degree $p+q-1$, and can equivalently be written $\{{\sigma }_p(P),{\sigma }_q(Q)\}={\sigma }_{p+q-1}([P,Q])$.

Use generators $x,D$ with $Dx-xD=1$. The ordered monomials $x^i{D}^j$ form a basis: construct the Weyl algebra as the differential Ore extension of $\mathbb{C}[x]$ with $Df=fD+f^{\prime }$, which has unique ordered polynomial expressions. Giving both generators degree one produces the Bernstein filtration, whose associated graded ring is $\mathbb{C}[x,\xi ]$. If $a,b\ne 0$, their nonzero leading symbols have nonzero product in this polynomial integral domain. Thus $ab$ has nonzero leading symbol and cannot vanish. Hence $A_1(\mathbb{C})$ has no nontrivial zero divisors.

Here is the left-handed Ore theorem. Let $S$ be a multiplicative set of regular elements of a ring, containing $1$ and excluding $0$. There is an injective Ore localization whose elements are left fractions $s^{-1}a$ if and only ifThis is the left Ore condition. For a noncommutative domain, taking $S=A\setminus \{0\}$ gives a division ring exactly when this condition holds. With zero-divisor denominators a further left reversibility condition is needed; the regular-denominator statement is the one used here.

Necessity follows by writing $a{s}^{-1}=t^{-1}b$ in the quotient and multiplying by $t$ and $s$, giving $ta=bs$ in the embedded original ring. For a construction proving sufficiency, use the left Ore fraction construction: pairs $(s,a)$ represent $s^{-1}a$, and $(s,a)$ and $(t,b)$ are equivalent whenfor suitable $u,v\in A$. Reflexivity and symmetry are immediate. For transitivity, combine $us=vt=w$ and $u^{\prime }t=v^{\prime }q=w^{\prime }$ by a common left multiple $hw=k{w}^{\prime }\in S$. Then $(hv-k{u}^{\prime })t=0$, so regularity gives $hv=k{u}^{\prime }$, which combines the numerator equalities and proves transitivity.

Addition uses the common denominator $w$, with numerator $ua+vb$. To multiply $s^{-1}a$ by $t^{-1}b$, choose $v\in S,c\in A$ with $va=ct$; setThe Ore condition supplies a common refinement whenever a representative or an Ore relation is changed, and regularity cancels the shared denominator, proving independence of choices. The same refinements verify the ring axioms; the formulas are simply addition and multiplication after clearing left denominators. The map $a\mapsto (1,a)$ is injective, since equivalence to zero would give $ua=0$ with $u\in S$. Each $s\in S$ becomes invertible. A homomorphism inverting $S$ extends uniquely by $(s,a)\mapsto f(s{)}^{-1}f(a)$, giving the universal property. For all nonzero denominators in a noncommutative domain, a nonzero fraction has inverse $(s^{-1}a{)}^{-1}=a^{-1}s$, so the quotient is a division ring. This is the requested proof sketch, with the fraction equivalence and multiplication made explicit.

It remains to check the left Ore condition for $A_1(\mathbb{C})$. Its graded polynomial ring is Noetherian by the Hilbert basis theorem. Lifting homogeneous generators of a graded left ideal and successively cancelling leading symbols proves that the filtered algebra is a left Noetherian ring: each subtraction lowers the nonnegative degree, so it terminates.

In any left Noetherian noncommutative domain, nonzero principal left ideals intersect. Otherwise $Ab\cap Aa=0$ with $a,b\ne 0$ would makean infinite direct sum of nonzero left ideals. To verify directness, reduce a finite relation modulo $Aa$ to make its first summand zero, then cancel $a$ on the right and repeat. Its increasing finite partial sums contradict the ascending chain condition. A nonzero element of $Aa\cap As$ therefore has the form $ta=bs\ne 0$, with $t\ne 0$, proving the required condition. Consequently $A_1(\mathbb{C})$ has a classical ring of left quotients, and it is a division ring.

For $n\ge 1$, the Weyl algebra $A=A_n(\mathbb{C})$ is generated by $x_1,\dots ,x_n,D_1,\dots ,D_n$ with $[D_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$ and the other generator commutators zero. Iterating the differential Ore extension construction gives the ordered basis $x^{\alpha }{D}^{\beta }$. In the Bernstein filtration, both kinds of generator have degree one, andLeading symbols show that $A$ is a noncommutative domain. The Hilbert basis theorem and homogeneous-generator lifting by decreasing degree make it both left and right Noetherian.

It is also a simple ring. In a nonzero two-sided ideal, choose a nonzero element and a monomial $x^{{\alpha }_0}{D}^{{\beta }_0}$ of maximal total degree with nonzero coefficient $c$. Applying $(\mathrm{ad}D{)}^{{\alpha }_0}(\mathrm{ad}x{)}^{{\beta }_0}$ eliminates every lower-degree term and every different term of that maximal degree. The result is the nonzero scalar $(-1{)}^{|{\beta }_0|}{\alpha }_0!{\beta }_0!c$. Thus the ideal contains $1$. Here the scalar extraction by iterated Weyl commutators uses characteristic zero. Despite simplicity, $A$ has no nonzero finite-dimensional modules: in such a representation $[D_1,x_1]=I$ would have trace $0=\dim M$, impossible over $\mathbb{C}$. Its interesting module theory is necessarily infinite-dimensional.

For a finitely generated left module $M$, choose a finite-dimensional generating subspace $M_0$ and set $M_j=F_{j}A{M}_0$. This is a good filtration of a module. Its associated graded module is finite over the graded polynomial ring, so its cumulative Hilbert function is eventually a polynomial,with positive integer multiplicity $e(M)$. These are the Bernstein growth dimension of a Weyl algebra module and its multiplicity of a filtered module. Two good filtrations bound each other after fixed shifts: lift finite homogeneous generators in one filtration, bound their degrees in the other, and use compatibility with $F_{j}A$; then reverse the roles. The growth degree and leading coefficient therefore do not depend on the good filtration of a module. The degree is also the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module and the dimension of the characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module, the support of $\mathrm{gr}M$. Since $M$ is a quotient of a finite sum of copies of $A$, $d(M)\le 2n$.

The essential lower bound is the Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules:Here is a full proof. Multiplication gives a linear map $F_{j}A\to {\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathbb{C}}(M_j,M_{2j})$. Prove it injective by induction on $j$. At $j=0$ a scalar killing $M_0\ne 0$ must vanish. If $a\in F_{j}A$ kills $M_j$, then for every generator $z$, its commutator $[a,z]\in F_{j-1}A$ kills $M_{j-1}$: both $azm$ and $zam$ are zero for $m\in M_{j-1}$. Induction gives $[a,z]=0$ for all generators. In the ordered basis, $[D_i,a]$ differentiates the $x_i$ exponents and $[x_i,a]$ differentiates the $D_i$ exponents with a minus sign. Vanishing of all these commutators in characteristic zero forces $a$ to be a scalar. It then vanishes because it kills $M_0$. This proves the faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra and henceComparison of degrees gives $2n\le 2d(M)$, proving the inequality. Equally, without invoking eventual polynomiality, this estimate directly bounds the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module below by $n$. Right modules satisfy the same inequality through the filtration-preserving isomorphism $A\cong A^{\mathrm{op}}$, $x_i\mapsto x_i$, $D_i\mapsto -D_i$.

A nonzero finitely generated module with $d(M)=n$ is a holonomic Weyl algebra module; the zero module is conventionally included. This minimal-growth class is stable under submodules, quotient modules and extensions. For $0\to N\to M\to Q\to 0$, take the induced and quotient filtrations. Their graded sequence is exact; Noetherianity of $\mathrm{gr}A$ makes the induced filtrations good. Thus the Hilbert functions add andif both nonzero terms have the top dimension, their multiplicities add. For a holonomic Weyl algebra module, every nonzero subquotient has dimension $n$, by the upper bound inherited from $M$ and Bernstein's lower bound. Each nonzero factor in a strict chain therefore consumes positive integral multiplicity. This proves the multiplicity bounds the length of a holonomic Weyl module:In particular a holonomic module is both Noetherian and Artinian and has finite length, although its vector-space dimension is infinite. This distinction separates finite-dimensional representation theory from finite-length Weyl module theory.

The polynomial module $\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$, with $x_i$ acting by multiplication and $D_i$ by differentiation, is generated by $1$. Its $M_j$ consists of polynomials of degree at most $j$, with dimension $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{j+n}{n}\right)$, so $d=n$ and $e=1$. It is simple: differentiating a maximal-degree monomial of a nonzero polynomial isolates a nonzero constant, and multiplication by polynomials then generates the whole module. A second basic example is the delta moduleUsing the reverse ordered basis $D^{\beta }{x}^{\alpha }$, its vector space is $\mathbb{C}[D_1,\dots ,D_n]$; $D_i$ acts by multiplication and $x_i$ by negative differentiation. The same argument proves simplicity and holonomicity. These two examples are exchanged by the automorphism $x_i\mapsto D_i$, $D_i\mapsto -x_i$. Free modules, in contrast, have growth dimension $2n$ and are not holonomic. Thus the central organizing invariants are good filtration of a module, growth dimension, characteristic support and multiplicity, with Bernstein's estimate explaining why dimension $n$ is the natural smallest nonzero size.

This part proves $(c)\Rightarrow (a)$. Write the Weyl algebra generators as $x_1,\dots ,x_n,D_1,\dots ,D_n$, with $[D_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$ and the other generator commutators zero. The ordered monomials $x^{\alpha }{D}^{\beta }$ form a basis over any field: one may construct the algebra by successively adjoining the commuting derivations $D_i$ to $k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$, with multiplication $D_{i}f=f{D}_i+\partial f/\partial x_i$, obtaining unique ordered forms. This also makes $A_n(k)$ infinite-dimensional for $n\ge 1$.

Assume $\mathrm{char}k=0$ and let $I$ be a nonzero two-sided ideal. Choose a nonzero element $a=\sum c_{\alpha \beta }{x}^{\alpha }{D}^{\beta }\in I$, and a nonzero term of maximal total degree, say $({\alpha }_0,{\beta }_0)$. The relations giveApply $(\mathrm{ad}D{)}^{{\alpha }_0}(\mathrm{ad}x{)}^{{\beta }_0}$ to $a$. Every lower-degree term vanishes. A term of the same degree survives only if all its exponents dominate $({\alpha }_0,{\beta }_0)$, which forces equality. Thus the resulting element of $I$ isThe factorials are nonzero in characteristic zero. This is a nonzero scalar, so $1\in I$ and $I=A_n(k)$. Therefore $A_n(k)$ is simple in characteristic zero. This scalar extraction by iterated Weyl commutators supplies the full simplicity proof.

For the contrapositive of $(b)\Rightarrow (c)$, suppose $\mathrm{char}k=p>0$. ConsiderLet $x_i$ act by multiplication and $D_i$ by formal differentiation. Differentiation preserves the defining ideal, since $D_j(x_i^{p}f)=x_i^p{D}_{j}f$ in characteristic $p$. The relations $[D_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$ hold before quotienting and hence hold on $M$. Its basis consists of the monomials $x^{\alpha }$ with $0\le {\alpha }_i<p$, so ${\dim }_{k}M=p^n>0$. This is the explicit finite-dimensional module for the Weyl algebra in positive characteristic.

Therefore condition (b) fails in positive characteristic and implies characteristic zero. Combining this with the preceding two implications proves $(a)⟺(b)⟺(c)$. The same representation also has nonzero proper kernel, since the infinite-dimensional Weyl algebra cannot inject into a finite-dimensional endomorphism algebra, confirming its failure of simplicity in positive characteristic.

Fix a finite-dimensional nonnegative filtration of a ring giving $R$ its almost commutative algebra structure, and choose a good filtration of a module on $M$. When $\mathrm{gr}R$ is a standard graded algebra, the Hilbert-Serre theorem makes the cumulative Hilbert function $h_M(j)={\dim }_k{F}_{j}M$ eventually a polynomial. For $M\ne 0$, define the dimension of a filtered module and multiplicity of a filtered module byUse $d(0)=-\infty$ and $m(0)=0$. With positive weighted generators instead of a standard grading, the cumulative Hilbert function is eventually a quasipolynomial with a common positive leading coefficient across residue classes. Equivalently, $h_M(j)=c{j}^d+O(j^{d-1})$, and the definitions are $d(M)=d$ and $m(M)=d!c$. The common leading coefficient follows from monotonicity: interlacing consecutive residue classes forces their leading coefficients to agree. For a standard grading, multiplicity is a positive integer, since an integer-valued polynomial has an integral expansion in the binomial polynomials; weighted normalization can instead give a positive rational number.

Two good filtrations of a module for this fixed algebra filtration bound each other after fixed index shifts. The corresponding Hilbert functions therefore satisfy $h_F(j-a)\le h_G(j)\le h_F(j+b)$ for fixed $a,b$. Comparing their leading growth shows that the degree and leading coefficient agree. Thus $d(M)$ and $m(M)$ are independent of the module filtration; the fixed algebra filtration is part of the multiplicity convention.

For a submodule $N$, use its subspace filtration and the quotient filtration on $M/N$. These are good because $\mathrm{gr}R$ is Noetherian. The short exact sequence of filtered pieces givesNonzero leading coefficients are positive, soIf $d(N)=d(M/N)$, those leading coefficients add andThis is dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence.

For the Weyl algebra $A_n(k)$ in characteristic zero, Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules asserts $d(M)\ge n$ for every nonzero finitely generated module $M$. Write its generators as $x_i,D_i$, with $[D_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$ and all other generator commutators zero. The ordered monomials $x^{\alpha }{D}^{\beta }$ give the Bernstein filtrationTake a finite-dimensional generating subspace $V\ne 0$ of $M$ and put $M_j=A_{j}V$.

To prove faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra, consider $0\ne a\in A_j$ and choose a nonzero coefficient $c_{\alpha \beta }$ of a monomial of maximal total degree $d\le j$. Applying ${\prod }_i(\mathrm{ad}{D}_i{)}^{{\alpha }_i}(\mathrm{ad}{x}_i{)}^{{\beta }_i}$ to $a$ givesIndeed, these commutators differentiate the ordered coefficients: lower-degree monomials vanish, and another degree-$d$ monomial can survive only if all its exponents dominate $(\alpha ,\beta )$, which forces equality. This is scalar extraction by iterated Weyl commutators.