Nakayama automorphisms of Frobenius algebras

We show that the Nakayama automorphism of a Frobenius algebra $R$ over a field $k$ is independent of the field (Theorem 4). Consequently, the $k$-dual functor on left $R$-modules and the bimodule isomorphism type of the $k$-dual of $R$, and hence the question of whether $R$ is a symmetric $k$-algebra, are independent of $k$. We give a purely ring-theoretic condition that is necessary and sufficient for a finite-dimensional algebra over an infinite field to be a symmetric algebra (Theorem 7). Key words: Nakayama automorphism, Frobenius algebra, Frobenius ring, symmetric algebra, dual module, dual functor, bimodule, Brauer Equivalence.