Blocks of group algebras are derived simple. (Q1925756)

A finite-dimensional algebra \(A\) over a field \(k\) is called \(\mathcal D(\text{Mod})\)-simple if there does not exist a nontrivial recollement of the derived category \(\mathcal D(\text{Mod-}A)\) of \(A\)-modules of the form \[ \mathcal{D}(\text{Mod-}B)\,\underleftarrow{\overleftarrow{\rightarrow}}\,\mathcal D(\text{Mod-}A)\,\underleftarrow{\overleftarrow{\rightarrow}}\,\mathcal D(\text{Mod-}C) \] where \(B\) and \(C\) are finite-dimensional \(k\)-algebras. In a similar way one defines \(A\) to be \(\mathcal D^b(\text{mod})\)-simple; here \(\mathcal D^b(\text{mod-}A)\) denotes the bounded derived category of finitely generated \(A\)-modules. The authors show that every indecomposable symmetric \(k\)-algebra \(A\) is \(\mathcal D^b(\text{mod})\)-simple. They also show that \(A\) is \(\mathcal D(\text{Mod})\)-simple provided that, for any finitely generated non-projective \(A\)-module \(M\), we have \(\text{Ext}^n_A(M,M)\neq 0\) for infinitely many integers \(n\). This last condition is satisfied for blocks of group algebras of finite groups over \(k\), and for self-injective \(k\)-algebras of finite representation type. The authors apply their results to stratifications of derived module categories.