Depth and dimension for triangulated categories (Q2666380)

Let \(R\) be a commutative noetherian ring, \(\mathfrak{a}\) an ideal of \(R\), and \(M\) an \(R\)-module. The depth of \(M\) with respect to \(\mathfrak{a}\), denoted by \(\mathrm{depth}_{R}(\mathfrak{a},M)\), is a fundamental numerical invariant lying at the crossroad of commutative algebra and homological algebra. It is the smallest non-negative integer \(i\) for which \(\mathrm{Ext}^{i}_{R}(R/\mathfrak{a},M)\neq 0\). Also, it is equal to the smallest non-negative integer \(i\) for which \(H^{i}_{\mathfrak{a}}(M)\neq 0\). If \(M\) is finitely generated, \(\mathrm{depth}_{R}(\mathfrak{a},M)\) is equal to the length of any maximal regular sequence on \(M\) that is contained in \(\mathfrak{a}\). The concept of depth can further be extended to \(R\)-complexes. The authors of this paper define the depth of an object in a compactly generated triangulated category, and then investigate its fundamental properties. They further provide the relation of depth to Krull dimension for a cohomologically finite object.