-identities on associative algebras

Let be an algebra over a field and a finite group of automorphisms and anti-automorphisms of . We prove that if satisfies an essential -polynomial identity of degree , then the -codimensions of are exponentially bounded and satisfies a polynomial identity whose degree is bounded by an explicit function of . As a consequence we show that if is an algebra with involution satisfying a -polynomial identity of degree , then the -codimensions of are exponentially bounded; this gives a new proof of a theorem of Amitsur stating that in this case must satisfy a polynomial identity and we can now give an upper bound on the degree of this identity.