Plünnecke and Kneser type theorems for dimension estimates

Given a division ring K containing the field k in its center and two finite subsets A and B of K∗, we give some analogues of Plünnecke and Kneser Theorems for the dimension of the k-linear span of the Minkowski product AB in terms of the dimensions of the k-linear spans of A and B. We also explain how they imply the corresponding more classical theorems for abelian groups. These Plünnecke type estimates are then generalized to the case of associative algebras. We also obtain an analogue in the context of division rings of a theorem by Tao describing the sets of small doubling in a group. AMS classification: 05E15, 12E15, 11P70.