Homological properties of (graded) Noetherian PI rings (Q1335112)

The central result of this very important paper is the following. Theorem: Let \(R\) be a graded Noetherian polynomial identity (PI) ring that is right graded injectively smooth. Then \(R\) is an Auslander- Gorenstein, graded Macaulay ring whose (Gabriel-Rentschler) Krull dimension and right injective dimensions are equal. (Here, \(R\) is graded means that \(R = \oplus_{j \geq 0} R_ j\) with \(R_ i R_ j \subseteq R_{i + j}\) for all \(i\) and \(j\); this includes the ungraded case \(R = R_ 0\). A graded ring \(R\) of right injective dimension \(n\) is right graded injectively smooth if \(\text{Ext}^ n_ R(S,R) \neq 0\) for all irreducible graded right \(R\)-modules; and such a ring is Auslander- Gorenstein if, for every finitely generated \(R\)-module \(M\) and submodule \(N\) of \(\text{Ext}^ j_ R(M,R)\), one has \(\text{Ext}^ i_ R(N,R) = 0\) when \(i < j\). Let \(j(M) = \min\{j: \text{Ext}^ j_ R(M,R) \neq 0\}\); then \(R\) is (graded) Macaulay provided \(j(M) + K\text{-dim}(R)\) for every finitely generated (graded) \(R\)-module \(M\), where \(K\text{-dim}( )\) denotes the Krull dimension.) We illustrate this rather technical statement by considering two contrasting special cases. First, suppose that \(R\) is connected graded -- that is, \(R_ 0 = k\), a central subfield of \(R\), and each \(R_ i\) is a finite dimensional \(k\)-vector space. If now \(R\) is Noetherian PI and has finite injective dimension, the smoothness hypothesis is automatic and the conclusions follow (and with \(GK\)-dimension replacing Krull dimension). As a corollary one finds that \(R\), if \(R\) has finite global dimension, is a domain, is a maximal order in its division ring of quotients, equals its trace ring and is a finite module over its centre. Second, consider the case of a local Noetherian PI ring \(R\) of finite global dimension. Then, again, the smoothness condition is vacuous, so the theorem applies. One finds additionally that \(R\) is a matrix ring over a domain, is a maximal order and is integral over its centre, with equal Krull and global dimensions. These results can be globalised using the concept of a homologically homogeneous ring, generalising the definition from \textit{K. A. Brown} and \textit{C. R. Hajarnavis} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 281, 197-208 (1984; Zbl 0531.16019)]. This paper should be viewed as providing the correct generalisation to Noetherian PI rings of the key ideas and results of the theory of regular commutative rings. Motivation has come from two main sources: From the study of graded rings with ``good'' homological properties, as begun by \textit{M. Artin} and \textit{W. Schelter} [Adv. Math. 66, 171-216 (1987; Zbl 0633.16001)] and pursued in much recent work; and from earlier attempts to extend the commutative theory, stemming from \textit{W. V. Vasconcelos} [Symp. Math. 11, 11-22 (1973; Zbl 0273.13013)]. It is natural to ask how far beyond the setting of PI rings the results and ideas of this important paper can be carried. Some further progress has already been achieved -- see \textit{Kok-Ming Teo} [Homological properties of fully bounded Noetherian rings (preprint, Univ. Michigan, 1994)].