Distinguishing Leavitt algebras among Leavitt path algebras of finite graphs by the Serre property (Q6165909)

The Serre's conjecture asked whether finitely generated projective modules over the polynomial ring \(k[x_1,\ldots ,x_n]\) with coefficients in a field \(k\), are free. This paper is devoted to investigate Serre's conjecture for the rings arising from Leavitt path algebras and its relation with two unanswered questions in the theory of Leavitt path algebras: the Kirchberg-Phillips question and the Splice question. Concretely, the authors conjecture: Conjecture 1.1. Suppose \(E\) is a finite graph and \(L_k(E)\) its associated Leavitt path algebra. Then every finitely generated projective right \(L_k(E)\)-module is free if and only if \(L_k(E)\cong L_n\) for some \(n\in \mathbb{N}\), where \(L_n\) denote de classical Leavitt algebra. In the way, the authors first prove that Serre's conjecture holds for the Leavitt algebras \(L_n\) with \(n\ge 2\) (Example 3.2). A weaker version of Conjecture 1.1 is later shown: Given a finite graph \(E\), if every finitely generated projective right \(L_k(E)\)-module is free, then \(L_k(E)\) is Morita equivalent to the Leavitt ring \(L_n\) for some integer \(n\ge 1\). Furthermore, a characterisation of a Leavitt path algebra of a finite graph over which every finitely generated projective module is free is provided (Theorem 3.4). At this point, the authors are in position to consider the two unanswered questions, Question 1.2 (algebraic Kirchberg-Phillips question) and Question 1.3 (Splice question): Question 1.2. (Classification question) Let \(E\) and \(F\) be finite graphs such that \(L_k(E)\) and \(L_k(F)\) are purely infinite simple algebras. Is it true that \(L_k(E)\cong L_k(F)\) as \(k\)-algebras if and only if there is an isomorphism \(\phi \colon K_0(L_k(E)) \to K_0(L_k(F))\) such that \(\phi([L_k(E)])=\phi([L_k(F)])\)? Question 1.3. Consider the Leavitt path algebras \(L_2\) and \(L_{2-}\). Are this algebras isomorphic? They relate both questions to Conjecture 1.1 proving that if Question 1.2 has a positive answer, then Conjecture 1.1 is true and if Conjecture 1.1 is true, then Question 1.3 has a positive answer (Theorem 3.6). Next, some examples show how the previous results can be applied to construct algebras having stably free but not free modules, to show that certain Leavitt path algebras are not graded isomorphic to some Leavitt algebra \(L_n\) with \(n\in \mathbb{N}\), to find Leavitt path algebras where not all finitely generated projective modules over them are free, etc. The authors conclude by studying the Serre's conjecture in the setting of graph \(C^*\)-algebras (Remark 3.9).