General Dorroh Extensions

Abstract

In a recent paper G. A. Cannon and K. M. Neuerburg point out that if $A=\mathbb{Z}$ and $B$ is an arbitrary ring with unity, then $\mathbb{Z}\star{B}$, the Dorroh extension of $B$, is isomorphic to the direct product $\mathbb{Z}\times{B}$. Thus, the ideal structure of $\mathbb{Z}\star{B}$ can be completely described. The aim of this note is to point out that this result may be extended to any pair $(A,B)$ in which $B$ is an $A$-algebra with unity, and to study the construction of extensions of algebras without zero divisors and their behavior with respect to algebra maps.