The balanced-projective dimension of units in commutative modular group algebras (Q1295593)

Let \(G\) be a multiplicative Abelian \(p\)-group and let \(F\) be a perfect field of characteristic \(p\). Assume \(V(G)\) is the group of normalized units of the group algebra \(FG\) (i.e., of augmentation 1). Let \(\text{bpd }H\) be the balanced-projective dimension of an arbitrary \(p\)-group \(H\). In the paper it is proved that \(\text{bpd }V(G)=\text{bpd }G\). This equality, for \(\text{bpd }G=0\), is really the fundamental result of \textit{W. May} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 104, No. 2, 403-409 (1988; Zbl 0691.20008)]: \(V(G)\) is totally projective if and only if \(G\) is. Some partial results are obtained concerning the conjecture: If \(\text{bpd }G=k\) for some positive integer \(k\), then \(\text{bpd}(V(G)/G)\leq k-1\). Special cases of these results are related to the direct factor problem: Find necessary and sufficient conditions under which \(G\) is a direct factor of \(V(G)\).