A test for finite representation type (Q1336803)

An associative ring \(R\) with identity is called left pure-semisimple if every left \(R\)-module is a direct sum of indecomposable left \(R\)-modules. It is conjectured that every left pure-semisimple ring has finite representation type (The Pure-Semisimple Conjecture). This was verified for Artin algebras by M. Auslander. Assume that \(R\) is a left pure-semisimple ring. The main result of this paper states that \(R\) is of finite representation type iff the (finite) number of preprojective left \(R\)-modules equals the number of preinjective right \(R\)-modules. It is then proved that \(R\) is of finite representation type if \(R\) has a Morita self duality, or if \(R\) is a polynomial identity ring. Possible counterexamples to the pure-semisimple conjecture are investigated, and an important reduction is provided by the following theorem: If \(R\) is a counterexample, then there are division rings \(F\) and \(G\) and a simple \(G - F\)-bimodule \(_ G B_ F\) such that the matrix ring \(R_ B = \left(\begin{smallmatrix} F & 0\\B & G \end{smallmatrix}\right)\) is a counterexample which is not right Morita. The paper describes how starting with an arbitrary counterexample to the conjecture, a counterexample to this theorem can be produced. The proofs of these results rely on the study of the finitely generated objects (and their projective covers) of the category (mod-\(R\), Ab) of functors from the category mod-\(R\) of finitely presented right \(R\)-modules to the category Ab (the left pure-semisimple rings are characterized in terms of this category), and on the investigation of the right preinjective and of the left preprojective modules over the left pure-semisimple ring \(R\). The author shows that there are only finitely many nonisomorphic preprojective left \(R\)-modules, and the number of them is not less than the number of preinjective right \(R\)-modules. Model theoretic techniques and characterizations of left pure-semisimple rings are also heavily used.