Rigidity of truncated quiver algebras (Q915836)

Let \(\Lambda\) be a finite dimensional algebra over a field k, and \(K=k(x)\) be the power series field in one variable. A one-parameter family of deformations of \(\Lambda\) is a K-algebra structure on the K- vector space \(L=K\otimes_ k\Lambda\) given by f: \(\Lambda\otimes_ k\Lambda \to L\) where \(f(a,b)=ab+xf_ 1(a,b)+x^ 2f_ 2(a,b)+..\). The algebra \(\Lambda\) is called rigid if any one-parameter family of deformations of \(\Lambda\) is isomorphic over k to the trivial one (obtained when \(f_ i=0\) for all \(i\geq 1)\). The author studies the rigidity of the so-called truncated quiver algebras, that is, algebras of the form \(\Lambda \overset \sim \rightarrow kQ/F^ m\), where Q is a finite quiver, F the ideal of the path algebra kQ generated by the arrows, and m is some positive integer. The case \(m=2\) was already considered by the author [in J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 36, 211-218 (1987; Zbl 0594.16014)]. The author defines certain conditions on the quiver Q of \(\Lambda =kQ/F^ m\), which he calls the m-vanishing conditions. The main result of this paper states that the truncated quiver algebra \(kQ/F^ m\) is rigid if and only if Q satisfies the m-vanishing conditions. The main tool in the proof is Hochschild cohomology. First, using spectral sequences, the author shows that if Q satisfies the m-vanishing condition, then the 2nd Hochschild cohomology group \(H^ 2(\Lambda,\Lambda)\) vanishes. By a well-known result of \textit{M. Gerstenhaber} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 79, 59-103 (1964; Zbl 0123.031)], \(\Lambda\) is rigid. The converse is shown by proving that if any of the m-vanishing conditions is violated, then \(\Lambda\) is not rigid.