Modules for \(\mathbb Z/p\times\mathbb Z/p\). (Q550551)

Let \(k\) be a field of finite characteristic \(p\), and let \(G\) be a finite group scheme whose order is a multiple of \(p\). Let \(kG\) be the dual of the coordinate algebra \(k[G]\). In the study of \(kG\)-modules one can consider \(\pi\)-points, flat \(K\)-algebra maps \(\alpha_K\colon K[t]/(t^p)\to KG\) for \(K\) an extension of \(k\). Two \(\pi\)-points \(\alpha_K,\beta_L\) are equivalent if for any finite dimensional \(kG\)-module \(M\) the restriction of \(M_K\) along \(\alpha_K\) is a free \(KG\)-module if and only if the restriction of \(M_L\) along \(\beta_L\) is free. If the rank of the linear operator \(\alpha_K(t)\) on \(M_K\) is independent of the choice of \(\alpha_K\) we say \(M\) has constant rank; moreover if the Jordan type of \(\alpha_K(t)\) is independent of the choice of \(\pi\)-point we say \(M\) is of constant Jordan type. This work is a study of \(k(\mathbb Z/p\times\mathbb Z/p)\)-modules of constant Jordan type, paying particular attention to a subcategory of such modules, \(W\)-modules, which are introduced here. For \(G=(\mathbb Z/p)^r\), \(kG=k[t_1,\dots,t_r]/(t_1^p,\dots,t_r^p)\), a \(\pi\)-point \(\alpha_K\) is equivalent to the image of \(t\in K[t]/(t^p)\) -- denote this point in \(KG\) by \(\ell_{\alpha_K}\), or \(\ell_\alpha\) for short. A finite dimensional \(kG\)-module \(M\) has the equal images property if for any two \(\pi\)-points \(\alpha_K\) and \(\beta_L\) the images of \(\ell_\alpha(M_K)\) and \(\ell_\beta(M_L)\) agree after base change to a field extension \(\Omega\) of both \(K\) and \(L\). There are a number of equivalent formulations of the equal images property, such as for all \(\ell\in\text{Rad}(KG)\setminus\text{Rad}(KG)^2\) we have \(\ell(M_K)=\text{Rad}(M_K)\). As an example, if \(I=\text{Rad}(kG)\) then \(I^j\), a module of constant Jordan type, has the equal images property if and only if \((r-1)(p-1)\leq j\). More generally, if \(M\) has the equal images property, then \(M\) has constant Jordan type. Furthermore, for \(L\subset M\) a \(kG\)-submodule and \(M\) possesses the equal images property, then so does the quotient \(M/L\). After the formulation of the above property, attention is focused on the case \(G=\mathbb Z/p\times\mathbb Z/p\). Then we may write \(kG=k[t_1,t_2]/(t_1^p,t_2^p)\). Let \(x\) and \(y\) denote the classes of \(t_1\) and \(t_2\) in \(\text{Rad}(kG)\): \(x\) and \(y\) clearly generate this radical. For \(1\leq d\leq n\), \(d\leq p\), let \(W_{n,d}\) be the \(kG\)-module generated by \(\{v_1,\dots,v_n\}\) subject to the relations \(xv_1=yv_n=x^dv_n=0\) and \(x^dv_i=yv_i-xv_{i+1}=0\) for \(1\leq i<n-1\). For \(d>n\) let \(W_{n,d}=W_{n,n}\). Collectively, these are called \(W\)-modules. It is shown that \(W\)-modules have the equal images property and a formula for the (constant) Jordan type is given. For \(n\leq p\) the classes \([W_{n,n}]\) form a minimal generating set of the Grothendieck group \(K_0(\mathcal CW)\) of the category of \(kG\)-modules of the form \(W_{n,d}\); furthermore \(K_0(\mathcal CW)\cong\mathbb Z^p\), the isomorphism arising from composing the map \(K_0(\mathcal CW)\to K_0(\mathcal C)\), where \(\mathcal C\) is the category of modules of constant Jordan type, with the Jordan type mapping. One reason for focusing on the \(W\)-modules is their prevalence in \(\mathcal C\). For example, if \(\text{Rad}^2(M)\) is trivial, then \(M\) decomposes into a direct sum of \(W\)-modules; furthermore the decomposition is into \(W\)-modules with \(n=1\) or \(2\). Also, any \(kG\) module with the equal images property can be realized as a quotient of \(W_{n,d}\) for some \(n\), where \(\text{Rad}^d(M)\) is trivial. Suppose for this paragraph that \(k\) is infinite. To any finite dimensional \(kG\)-module \(M\) and any point \(\langle a,b\rangle\in\mathbb P^1(k)\) we can define \(_{\langle a,b\rangle}M=\text{Ker}\{ax+by\colon M\to M\}\); more generally for \(S\subset\mathbb P^1(k)\) we let \(_SM\) be the sum of \(_{\langle a,b\rangle}M\) over all \(\langle a,b\rangle\in\mathbb P^1(k)\). The generic kernel \(\mathfrak R(M)\) is then the intersection of all \(_SM\) with \(S\subset\mathbb P^1(k)\) cofinite. The generic kernel is compatible with extending the field \(k\) in a natural way, a fact needed to prove that \(\mathfrak R(M)\) also has the equal images property. In fact, \(\mathfrak R(M)\) is the maximal submodule of \(M\) with the equal images property, and \(\mathfrak R(M)\) is the maximal submodule of \(M\) arising as the quotient of a \(W\)-module. Let \(W\) be the generic kernel of \(M\), a module of constant rank. Then an increasing filtration of \(M\) is given, namely by submodules of the form \(x^iW\) for \(1-p\leq i\leq p-1\). In this filtration, \(x^iW\) has the equal images property and \(M/x^iW\) has the equal kernels property. Finally, it is shown that any cyclic \(kG\)-module of constant Jordan type is a quotient of \(kG\) by a power of the augmentation ideal. This holds regardless of the characteristic of \(k\).