Syzygies and Ext (Q790188)

Let \(R\) denote a regular local ring. All \(R\)-modules will be assumed to be finitely generated and unitary. In his article in Ill. J. Math. 10, 220-226 (1966; Zbl 0139.26601), \textit{S. Lichtenbaum} proved that if \(Tor^ R_ i(M,N)=(0)\) for some \(i\), then \(Tor^ R_ j(M,N)=(0)\) for all \(j\geq i\). Easy examples show that a similar statement is not true in general with Tor replaced by Ext. However, when \(M=N\), the statement \(Ext^ i_ R(M,M)=(0)\), does imply \(Ext^ j_ R(M,M)=(0)\) for all \(j\geq i\). This is shown in the author's article in Nagoya Math. J. 59, 149-152 (1975; Zbl 0348.13006). When \(M\) and \(N\) are arbitrary the best one can assert is that if \(Ext^ i_ R(M,N)=(0)\) for a positive integer \(i\geq depth N-Syz M\), then \(Ext^ j_ R(M,N)=(0)\) for all \(j\geq i\). Here if \(M\) is an \(r\)-th module of syzygies we denote \(Syz M=r\). This is theorem 1 of the present article. - This is done by first generalising the concept of test module for projectivity introduced by \textit{M. Ramras} in his article in Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 27, 457-462 (1971; Zbl 0219.13013). We say a nonzero module \(M\) is a test module for projectivity of \(r\)-th syzygies, if \(Ext^ 1_ R(P,M)=(0)\), for an \(r\)-th syzygy module \(P\), implies \(P\) is projective. We prove \(M\neq(0)\), is a test module for projectivity of \(r\)-th syzygies if and only if \(depth M\leq r+1\).