Patch-continuity of normalized ranks of modules over one-sided Noetherian rings (Q800453)

A new, simpler proof is developed for \textit{J. T. Stafford}'s continuity theorem concerning normalized ranks of finitely generated modules at prime ideals of a noetherian ring [J. Algebra 69, 312-346 (1981; Zbl 0456.16026); Theorem 4.5], and the result is extended to one-sided noetherian rings. Given a finitely generated right module \(A\) over a right Noetherian ring \(R\), the normalized rank of \(A\) at a prime ideal \(P\) of \(R\) is the ratio \(r_ P(A)\) obtained by dividing the composition series length of \(A\otimes_ RQ_ P\) by the composition series length of \(Q_ P\), where \(Q_ P\) is the right Goldie quotient ring of \(R/P\). Provided the prime spectrum of \(R\) is given the patch topology, the continuity theorem asserts that \(r_ P(A)\) is a continuous function of \(P\). Some of the applications of this theorem, to number of generator estimates and to identification of external states on \(K_ 0\), are sketched at the end of the paper.