A generalization of the classical Krull dimension for modules. (Q855973)

Let \(R\) be a ring with identity element. The aim of this paper is to define and investigate the classical Krull dimension \(\text{Cl.K.dim}(M)\) of an arbitrary left \(R\)-module \(M\). This concept, generalizing the concept of classical Krull dimension of a ring, is defined by means of chains of prime submodules of \(M\) and the following relation \(<_s\) in the set of all submodules of \(M\): if \(N_1,N_2\) are submodules of \(M\), then \(N_1<_sN_2\) if \(N_1\subset N_2\) and \((N_1:M)\subset(N_2:M)\), where ``\(\subset\)'' is proper inclusion. The author proves that \(\text{Cl.K.dim}(M)\) exists if and only if there is no strictly ascending chain \[ N_1<_sN_2<_s\cdots<_sN_k<_sN_{k+1}<_s\cdots \] of prime submodules of \(M\). Among other things, the author examines the classical Krull dimension of multiplication modules over commutative rings and the PI rings whose nonzero modules have classical Krull dimension zero.