[Math] Is the coordinate ring of SL2 a UFD

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Is the ring $K[a,b,c,d]/(ad-bc-1)$ a unique factorization domain?

I think this is a regular ring, so all of its localizations are UFDs by the Auslander–Buchsbaum theorem. However, I know there are Dedekind domains (which are regular; every local ring is a PID, so definitely UFD) that are not UFDs, so being a regular ring need not imply the ring is a UFD.

With the non-UFD Dedekind domains (at least the number rings), I can usually spot a non-unique factorization, but I don't see any here in this higher dimensional example.

Best Answer

If $K$ is an algebraically closed field of characteristic $\neq2$, then the ring $K[a,b,c,d]/(ad-bc-1)$ is a UFD.
This results (non trivially) from the Klein-Nagata theorem stating that if $n\geq 5$, the ring $K[x_1,...,x_n]/(q(x_1,...,x_n))$ is factorial for any field $K$ of characteristic $\neq2$ and any non degenerate quadratic form $ q(x_1,...,x_n)$.

Edit
In the comments @Alex Youcis explains why the result is still true for non algebraically closed fields.
I am very grateful for his valuable addition.

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