English

Purity, algebraic compactness, direct sum decompositions, and representation type

Rings and Algebras 2014-07-10 v1 Representation Theory

Abstract

This survey article is devoted to the notions of purity, algebraic and Σ\Sigma-algebraic compactness, direct sum decompositions, and representation type in the category of modules over a ring. It begins with basic definitions, a brief history, and a discussion of global decomposition problems going back to work of K\"othe and Cohen-Kaplansky; these are strongly tied to algebraic compactness. Characterisations of (Σ\Sigma-)algebraically compact modules are presented, as well as the functorial underpinnings on which they are based. In particular, product-compatible functors, matrix functors and pp-functors are discussed. The latter part of the article is devoted to rings of vanishing left pure global dimension, product completeness, endofiniteness, the pure semisimplicity problem and its connection with a strong Artin problem on division ring extensions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1407.2360,
  title  = {Purity, algebraic compactness, direct sum decompositions, and representation type},
  author = {Birge Huisgen-Zimmermann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1407.2360},
  year   = {2014}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T04:59:08.825Z