Automorphisms of Ideals of Polynomial Rings

Abstract

Let $R$ be a commutative integral domain with unit, $f$ be a nonconstant monic polynomial in $R[t]$, and $I_f \subset R[t]$ be the ideal generated by $f$. In this paper we study the group of $R$-algebra automorphisms of the $R$-algebra without unit $I_f$. We show that, if $f$ has only one root (possibly with multiplicity), then $Aut (I_f) \cong R^\times$. We also show that, under certain mild hypothesis, if $f$ has at least two different roots in the algebraic closure of the quotient field of $R$, then $Aut(I_f)$ is a cyclic group and its order can be completely determined by analyzing the roots of $f$.