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Free algebras and free groups in Ore extensions and free group algebras in division rings

Let $K$ be a field of characteristic zero, let $σ$ be an automorphism of $K$ and let $δ$ be a $σ$-derivation of $K$. We show that the division ring $D=K(x;σ,δ)$ either has the property that every finitely generated subring satisfies a polynomial identity or $D$ contains a free algebra on two generators over its center. In the case when $K$ is finitely generated over $k$ we then see that for $σ$ a $k$-algebra automorphism of $K$ and $δ$ a $k$-linear derivation of $K$, $K(x;σ)$ having a free subalgebra on two generators is equivalent to $σ$ having infinite order, and $K(x;δ)$ having a free subalgebra is equivalent to $δ$ being nonzero. As an application, we show that if $D$ is a division ring with center $k$ of characteristic zero and $D^*$ contains a solvable subgroup that is not locally abelian-by-finite, then $D$ contains a free $k$-algebra on two generators. Moreover, if we assume that $k$ is uncountable, without any restrictions on the characteristic of $k$, then $D$ contains the $k$-group algebra of the free group of rank two.