Gorenstein homology, relative pure homology and virtually Gorenstein rings (Q2249259)

Let \(R\) be a commutative noetherian ring with identity of finite Krull dimension, and let \(\mathcal{M}\) be the category of \(R\)-modules and \(R\)-homomorphisms. Let \(\mathcal{X}\subseteq \mathcal{M}\) be a class of \(R\)-modules. Following \textit{R. B. Warfield jun.} [Pac. J. Math. 28, 699--719 (1969; Zbl 0172.04801)], an exact sequence \(0\to A\to B\to C\to 0\) in \(\mathcal{M}\) is called \textit{\(\mathcal{X}\)-pure exact} if for all \(U\in \mathcal{X}\) the induced map \(\Hom_R(U, B)\to \Hom_R(U, C)\) is surjective. An \(R\)-module \(M\) is called \textit{\(\mathcal{X}\)-pure injective} (resp. \textit{\(\mathcal{X}\)-pure projective; \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure flat}) if the functor \(\Hom_R(-, M)\) (resp. \(\Hom_R(M,-)\); \(M\otimes_R -\)) leaves any \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure exact sequence exact. A homology theory \(\mathcal{T}\) is called \textit{\(\mathcal{X}\)-pure homology} if an \(R\)-module \(M\) in \(\mathcal{T}\) is injective (resp. projective; flat) if and only if it is \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure injective (resp. \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure projective; \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure flat). The goal of this paper is to investigate a question posed by Warfield: Is Gorenstein homology an \(\mathcal{X}\)-pure homology for some class \(\mathcal{X}\subseteq \mathcal{M}\)? Let \(\mathcal{GP}\) and \(\mathcal{GI}\) be the classes of Gorenstein projective and Gorenstein injective \(R\)-modules, and define \(\mathcal{GP}^{\perp}=\{M\in \mathcal{M} \mid \text{Ext}^1_R(X, M) = 0\;\text{for all}\;X\in \mathcal{GP}\}\) and \(^{\perp}\mathcal{GI}=\{M\in \mathcal{M} \mid \text{Ext}^1_R(M, X) = 0\;\text{for all}\;X\in \mathcal{GI}\}\). In Theorems 3.10 and 3.12 of this paper which are the main results, the authors show that the following conditions are equivalent: (a) Gorenstein homology is a \(\mathcal{GP}\)-pure homology; the class of \(\mathcal{GP}\)-pure injective \(R\)-modules is the same as \(\mathcal{GI}\); \(\mathcal{GP}^{\perp}\)=\(^{\perp}\mathcal{GI}\); a short exact sequence in \(\mathcal{M}\) is \(\mathcal{GP}\)-pure exact if and only if it is \(\mathcal{GI}\)-pure exact; The functor \(\Hom_R(-,-)\) is so called ``right balanced'' by \(\mathcal{GP}\times \mathcal{GI}\). The authors also show that \(\mathcal{GP} = \{M\in \mathcal{M} \mid M\;\text{is }\mathcal{GP}\)-pure projective