On a question of M. Auslander (Q1886828): Difference between revisions

Let \(A\) be a commutative Noetherian ring and \(M\) be a finitely generated \(A\)-module such that \(\text{End}_A(M)\) is a projective \(A\)-module. In the main results of this paper, the author answers an old question due to M.\ Auslander by showing that if \(M\) has finite projective dimension or \(\text{Ext}_A^1(M, M) = 0\) then \(M\) is in fact projective. This was established much earlier under the additional asumption that \(A\) is regular by \textit{M. Auslander} and \textit{O.\ Goldman} [Trans.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 97, 1--24 (1960; Zbl 0117.02506)]. The proof uses some non-commutative algebra, employing a technical result which says that if \(A\) is local with maximal ideal \(m\) and \(R := \text{End}_A(M)\simeq A^s\) for some \(s\) then \(R/mR\) is isomorphic to the \(r\times r\) matrix ring over \(A/m\) where \(r\) is the rank of \(M\) over \(A\). Further results are proved when \(A\) is a normal local domain which is either equicharacteristic henselian or complete.