Strongly semihereditary rings and rings with dimension. (Q694572)

There is a dimension notion on finite Baer \(*\)-rings that satisfy certain \(*\)-ring axioms. This notion is related to the relation \(\sim\) on projections defined by \(p\sim q\) if and only if \(p=xx^*\) and \(q=x^*x\) for some \(x\). However a different relation is possible, namely, \(p\sim q\) if and only if \(p=xy\) and \(q=yx\) for some \(x\) and \(y\). Some attempts to give a unifying approach have been made (Berberian 1988). The aim of the present work is in words of its author: (1) To study conditions under which a ring with involution has a well-behaved dimension defined for a general equivalence relation on projections, (2) To find well-behaved dimensions on strongly semihereditary \(*\)-rings with positive definite involution, and (3) To obtain dimension on Noetherian Leavitt path algebras over positive definite fields. It is proved also that a dimension can be defined on Baer \(*\)-rings satisfying a suitable set of axioms. The dimension based on any of the two previously mentioned relations, agree under these conditions. Some additional results on right strongly semihereditary rings are also proved. Furthermore the author describes right strongly semihereditary rings in terms of relations between their maximal and total rings of quotients and characterizes extending Leavitt path algebras over finite graphs.