On kernels of cellular covers (Q2469767)

A group homomorphism \(c: G \rightarrow M\) is a cellular cover if every homomorphism \(G \rightarrow M\) factors uniquely through~\(c\). Such a map can be seen as the value on \(M\) of some \(A\)-cellular approximation functor \(\text{ cell}_A M \rightarrow M\), hence the name. The main result of this article is the existence of certain abelian groups for which the cellular covers form a whole class (and not a set). More precisely the authors construct for any given infinite cardinal \(\lambda\) a torsion free and reduced abelian group \(M\) of cardinality \(\lambda\) and for any infinite cardinal \(\kappa\) another abelian group \(K\) of cardinality \(\kappa\) which can be realized as the kernel of a cellular cover \(G \rightarrow M\). One of the key points in the construction is that both \(M\) and \(K\) have very few endomorphisms. This can be compared to the result \textit{R. Göbel, J. L. Rodríguez}, and \textit{S. Shelah} obtained for localizations of finite groups in [J. Reine Angew. Math. 550, 1--24 (2002; Zbl 1009.20021)].