Let $\alpha $ be any radical of associative rings. A radical $\gamma $ is called $\alpha $-like if, for every $\alpha $-semisimple ring $A$, the polynomial ring $A[x] $ is $\gamma $-semisimple. In this paper we describe properties of $\alpha $-like radicals and show how they can be used to solve some open problems in radical theory.

A radical ρ is called prime-like if for every prime ring A, the polynomial ring A[x] is ρ-semisimple. Let α be a radical satisfying the polynomial equation α(A[x])=(α(A))[x] for every ring A. A radical γ is called α-like if for every α-semisimple ring A, the polynomial ring A[x] is γ-semisimple. In this paper, we study properties of α-like radicals. We show that α-likeness is a generalization of prime-likeness and extend some results concerning prime-like radicals. This allows us easily to find distinct special radicals which coincide on simple rings and on polynomial rings, which answers a question put by Ferrero.

A radical γ is prime-like if, for every prime ring A, the polynomial ring A[x] is γ-semisimple. In this paper, we study properties of prime-like radicals. In particular, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a radical γ containing the prime radical β to be prime-like. This allows us to easily find distinct special radicals that coincide on simple rings and on polynomial rings, which answers a question put by Ferrero. It also allows us to reformulate a long-standing open problem of Gardner in terms of prime-like radicals.