A generalization of quantales with applications to modules and rings. (Q899561)

A \textit{quantale} is a complete lattice \(Q\) with a binary associative operation \(\bullet\) which distributes over arbitrary suprema of subsets from \(Q\). Any \textit{frame} is a quantale, but there are also important examples in ring theory, e.g. lattices of ideals. In this paper the authors introduce the notion of a \textit{quasi-quantale} where this additional operation \(\bullet\) distributes over arbitrary suprema but of \textit{directed} subsets. So, this is a generalization of quantales. First, properties of quasi-quantales are studied in details. Then, the results are applied to investigate modules over a ring, e.g. the lattice of preradicals of module categories.