On Ext-indices of ring extensions (Q1013096)

Let \(R\) be a commutative noetherian ring. If \(M, N\) are non-zero \(R\)-modules, we define \[ p^R(M,N):=\sup\{i\in{\mathbb N}\;|\text{Ext}^i_R(M,N)\neq 0\} \text{ and } \] \[ \text{Ext-index}(P):=\sup\{ p^R(M,N) | M,N \text{ are finitely generated } R\text{-modules with } p^R(M,N)<\infty\}. \] \(R\) is called a ring of finite Ext-index if Ext-index\((R)<\infty.\) The aim of this nice paper is to study the following three conjectures: Conjecture (L): If \(R\) is of finite Ext-index and \(\mathfrak{p}\) is a prime ideal of \(R\), then \(R_{\mathfrak{p}}\) is of finite Ext-index. Conjecture (E): Let \(R\) be an algebra over a field \(k\) and \(L\) a finitely generated field extension of \(k.\) If \(R\) is of finite Ext-index, then \(R\otimes_k L\) is of finite Ext-index. Conjecture (P): If \(R\) is of finite Ext-index, then \(R[X]\) is of finite Ext-index. First the relationships between these conjectures are studied and Conjectures (L) and (P) are verified in some special cases. Then it is shown that if \((R,m,k)\) is an artinian local ring, then the trivial extension \(R\ltimes k\) is always of finite Ext-index. The permanence of the finiteness of the Ext-index by base field extension is studied at the end of the paper.