Rank varieties and projectivity for a class of local algebras. (Q1762702)

Let \(K\) be an algebraically closed field, and for each positive integer \(m\) consider the algebra \(\Lambda_m:=K[X_1,\dots,X_m]/(X_i^2)\). The authors define a rank variety for these algebras, by making use of representations of Clifford algebras. Note that if \(\text{char\,}K=2\), \(\Lambda_m\) is the group algebra of the elementary Abelian \(2\)-group of rank \(m\), and in this case one recovers the original definition of a rank variety given by J.~F.~Carlson. The main result of the paper states that a \(\Lambda_m\)-module \(M\) is projective if and only if its rank variety vanishes. Applications of this result are given in the case of other algebras, like tensor products of Brauer tree algebras and certain parabolic Hecke algebras, and also to the study of the graph structure of the stable Auslander-Reiten quiver.