A class of retractable and coretractable modules (Q6159700)

A new class of modules is investigated. The authors merge notions of retractable module and coretractable module in order to introduce and study a concept called biretractable modules. A module \(M\) over a ring \(R\) is called biretractable if \(\mathrm{Hom}_R (M/K, N) \not = 0\) for any proper submodule \(K\) of \(M\) and any nonzero submodule \(N\) of \(M\). It is shown that being biretractable is preserved by taking direct summands but it is not preserved under submodules, factor modules, direct sums and extensions. The structure of biretractable modules over Dedekind domains is fully determined. It is proved that the right \(R\)-module \(R_R\) is biretractable if and only if \(R\) has a unique simple right \(R\)-module (up to isomorphism) and has an essential right socle. Also, the class of rings \(R\) for which every \(R\)-module is biretractable, is shown to be precisely that of right semi-artinian right max rings having a unique simple right \(R\)-module.