Dual automorphism-invariant modules. (Q1952138)

A right \(R\)-module \(M\) is called automorphism-invariant if isomorphisms between essential submodules of the module \(M\) extend to automorphisms of \(M\). A dual for this concept is defined here: A right \(R\)-module \(M\) is said to be dual automorphism-invariant if epimorphisms from \(M/K_1\) to \(M/K_2\) with small kernels lift to endomorphisms of \(M\), for all small submodules \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) of \(M\). Right \(V\)-rings are characterized as those rings for which every finitely generated right \(R\)-module is dual automorphism-invariant. Pseudo-projective modules are dual automorphism-invariant, but the converse is false. Properties of dual automorphism-invariant modules are studied. Submodules and direct sums of dual automorphism-invariant modules need not be automorphism-invariant, but direct summands are. For Abelian groups some interesting results are obtained. For torsion Abelian groups, dual automorphism-invariance is shown to be equivalent to quasi-projectivity and to discreteness. Any dual automorphism-invariant Abelian group is shown to be reduced. Some results for a module \(M\) over a right perfect ring are also obtained: (1) If \(M\) is lifting, then dual automorphism-invariance is equivalent to quasi-projectivity. (2) Two direct summands of a dual automorphism-invariant right \(R\)-module are projective relative to each other. (3) \(M\) is quasi-projective if and only if \(M\oplus M\) is dual automorphism-invariant. Over an Artinian serial ring \(R\), a right \(R\)-module is proved to be dual automorphism-invariant if and only if \(M\) is quasi-projective. The paper concludes with a number of open problems.