Approximations and endomorphism algebras of modules. Volume 1: Approximations. Volume 2: Predictions. (Q639476)

The book is the second edition of \textit{Approximations and Endomorphism Algebras of Modules} by Rüdiger Göbel and Jan Trlifaj. The first edition appeared in 2006 [Zbl 1121.16002]. The two volumes together present two complementary subjects of module theory that have been carefully investigated by the two authors: (Volume 1) Approximation theory which describes modules by approximating them with classes of modules that have been understood better, e.g. cotorsion pairs. (Volume 2) Realizing algebras as endomorphism algebras of modules with the help of set-theoretic and combinatorial tools. Both topics have been extended substantially by the authors reflecting the depth and width of recent developments in the areas. All relevant new results in the theories have been included with the result that the book has been divided into two volumes that now have almost 1000 pages. The book requires only basic knowledge of algebra, homological algebra and set theory, e.g. cardinal arithmetic, closed unbounded sets, stationary sets. While developing the theories from the foundations many examples and side remarks illustrate the concepts and methods on the way. As in the first edition the authors choose a presentation that starts with weaker versions of the results forming the basis for the main ideas and then leads to the more complicated results. A very helpful approach for the reader. In both volumes set theory is heavily used but mostly in a very reduced and combinatorial form. Independence results are by now standard in higher algebra of uncountable structures and the book is one of the best examples to demonstrate how powerful set theoretic methods can be applied in algebra. As was true for the first edition this book provides a good introduction into the subject for self-study at a graduate level and it also provides a very comprehensive survey on the subjects presenting the state-of-the-art. Both volumes have been written in a very clear and self-explaining way and the contents shows the expertise of the two authors in the field. I now discuss in brief the first volume -- approximations -- of this second edition with a focus on what has been added in comparison to the first edition. The first volume has 17 chapters where part I (Chapters 1 to 4) focuses on the classes that are relevant here: The S-complete, the pure-injective, the Mittag-Leffler, and the slender modules. Chapter 5 deals with the basic theory of approximations of modules using cotorsion pairs as the principle tool. The classical results by Salce, Wakamatsu and by Enochs on the existence of minimal approximations are proved. Chapter 6 presents the main general methods. For instance, it is shown that any cotorsion pair generated by a set is complete and any cotorsion pair cogenerated by a class of pure injective modules is perfect. Chapter 7 deals with one of the most important tools for handling filtrations of modules, the so-called Hill lemma. Besides its arbitrary version and the rank version for modules over domains, several applications like Kaplansky Theorem for cotorsion pairs and Shelah's singular compactness theorem for filtered modules are proved. Also an application in algebraic geometry is presented. Chapter 8 starts with the construction of approximations for modules. Modules of finite homological dimension as well as tilting and cotilting approximations are considered. Chapter 9 covers the case of modules of projective dimension less than or equal to one. Chapter 10 contains as its heart the important example of the Kaplansky but not deconstructible class of Mittag-Leffler modules. It is studied in deep detail and also the recent connection of Kaplansky classes to abstract model theory is investigated. Chapter 11 shows the first independence result, namely the question of whether completeness and generation by a set of a cotorsion pair can be proved for all cotorsion pairs. Chapter 12 studies the lattice \(L_{EXT}\) of all cotorsion pairs in the setting of Abelian groups. It is proved that every poset can be embedded into this lattice. Chapter 13 contains the fundamental result that all tilting modules are of finite type. Chapter 14 then characterizes all tilting modules over Prüfer domains and shows that all Baer modules over domains are projective. The chapter ends with an application of tilting theory to the structure of the localisations of commutative rings. Chapter 15 turns to the dual setting of cotilting modules and classes. It is proved that all cotilting modules are pure injective and that over one-sided Noetherian rings all 1-cotilting modules are of cofinite type. However, an example by Bazzoni shows that in general this is not the case. Chapter 16 covers the recent classification of tilting and cotilting classes over commutative Noetherian rings. Chapter 17 finally deals with the application of tilting approximations to the finitistic dimension conjectures. I now turn to the second volume -- predictions -- and discuss it in brief. Due to the nature of the topics, this volume interacts with the first volume since it provides many of the techniques and results that are used in Volume 1. The main message of the second volume is the fact that the use of set-theoretic prediction principles allows to show that the search for classification theorems for modules over (general) rings is very often doomed to fail. The way this is achieved goes back to Shelah and is based on realization theorems proving that a given algebra can be represented as the endomorphism algebra of modules in a certain category, thus showing the wildness of the category. Naturally, the prediction principles that the title refers to are divided into two kinds. Those that work in arbitrarily large cardinality above the continuum and those that work below. The usual way one realizes an algebra as the endomorphism algebra is to construct the desired module step by step. In order to \textit{kill} unwanted endomorphisms along the way one needs to have a certain amount of knowledge about these maps \textit{before} the construction or at least during the construction. This justifies the name \textit{prediction}. The main set-theoretic tools discussed are firstly the various versions of Shelah's Black Box principle that allow constructions in the usual Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory and secondly Shelah's elevator. Moreover, the diamond principle that holds for instance in Gödel's constructible universe is discussed. These principles are then applied to the construction of modules with prescribed endomorphism algebras and are also used to construct cotorsion pairs, localizations and cellular covers. Volume 2 covers the following topics: ``Prediction principles'', ``Endomorphism algebras and automorphism groups'', ``Modules and rings related to algebraic topology'', ``Large cellular covers, localisations and \(E(R)\)-algebras'' and ``Some useful classes of algebras''. The first two chapters 18 and 19 develop the set-theoretic tools that will be used to obtain realization theorems. Chapter 18 gives a nice survey on prediction principles covering the Diamond Principle as well as the Weak Diamond, combinatorial properties that only depend on cardinal arithmetic as recently shown by Shelah. Chapter 19 develops the different variants of the Black Box including the latest version for \(\aleph_n\)-freeness. The chapter also deals with Shelah's Elevator. Chapter 20 shows the main applications of the tool box given by the Black Box principles. It starts with a few realization theorems for algebras of small size and then continues with the realization theorem based on the General Black Box. Especially the recent general Black Box allows to extend several known results to a much wider class of modules and cardinals. In chapter 21 the classification of the finite automorphism groups of torsion-free Abelian groups is discussed. The well known result by A. L. S. Corner is developed. Chapters 22 and 23 show several applications of Shelah's elevator, namely the construction of free modules with distinguished submodules having a prescribed endomorphism algebra and prescribing automorphism groups of fields. Finally, Chapter 24 deals with realization of rings with free additive group as the endomorphism ring of \(\aleph_n\)-free modules (for natural \(n\)). Chapter 25 now opens the road to applications in algebraic topology. Basics on localization functors and cellular covers are explained. Chapter 26 continues with introducing the class of \(E\)-rings and their connection to Eilenberg-Mac Lane spaces. Chapters 27, 28 and 29 show the main results about cellular covers and the existence of absolute \(E\)-rings. Chapters 29 to 33 are devoted to the study of all kinds of \(E\)-rings, \(E(R)\)-algebras and applications to algebraic topology. In particular, the very nice and recent results concerning the existence of absolute \(E\)-rings and of proper generalized \(E(R)\)-algebras should be mentioned. The latter are non-commutative \(E(R)\)-algebras whose existence had not been known for decades. Finally, chapter 34 provides constructions of algebras which yield negative solutions to the Kaplansky Test Problems when realized as endomorphism algebras of modules. The book by Göbel and Trlifaj is certainly one of the most comprehensive elaborations on module theory and its interaction with set-theory and more generally logic. It shows once more that the two authors are strong experts in their fields. New and recent topics are covered in the same brilliant way of writing as before and bring the reader up to date. The second edition has an extensive bibliography that refers to most of the (recent) research done in the field. There is a bunch of open problems at the end of each chapter pointing to current research interests and ongoing investigations. I am sure that the book will sooner or later become the standard book in this field. One should perhaps mention that the only other book covering similar topics is the one by \textit{Paul Eklof} and \textit{Alan Mekler} on \textit{Almost free modules} [2002; Zbl 1054.20037]. However, the Eklof and Mekler book is more specialized on set-theoretic methods and their applications to modules. The two books can therefore be seen as perfect team having some overlap but mostly complement on another. \textit{Approximations and Endomorphism Algebras} by Göbel and Trlifaj is a marvelous work that can be used either for self-study introducing the reader to a very interesting field of research or as the main reference book covering a wide scope of results and techniques on topics in module theory and set-theoretic applications to it. I can only recommend it to anyone interested in these fields.