A classification of group gradings on incidence algebras over commutative rings

Abstract

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with 1, $P$ a locally finite partially ordered set, and $G$ a group. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for an $R$-algebra isomorphism between the incidence algebra $I(P,R)$ and the group algebra $RG$. Then, for an indecomposable ring $R$, a finite poset $P$ and an arbitrary group $G$, we classify the $G$-gradings of $I(P,R)$ up to graded isomorphism. The classification rests on a complete set of primitive orthogonal homogeneous idempotents. The corner algebras are split group algebras of finite abelian subgroups of $G$, and the off-diagonal Peirce blocks are multiplicity-free sums of bimodules induced from characters of double coset stabilizers. Graded isomorphisms are shown to have a rigid form, and a grading is determined up to graded isomorphism by the poset of idempotents, the corner groups, the types of the atomic bimodules and the structure constants of their multiplication. The data which occur are characterized by polynomial conditions, and over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero only finitely many graded isomorphism classes share given partial invariants. An example shows that the structure constants cannot be omitted. Some previous results are extended and enhanced, while providing alternative proofs for some known facts.