Gluing representations via idempotent modules and constructing endotrivial modules. (Q958117)

The paper under review combines two major advances from separate subjects to explain Carlson's cohomology varieties in parts. Given a group \(G\) the cohomology ring with coefficients in a field \(k\) of finite characteristic is graded commutative and the prime ideal spectrum defines a projective variety. The cohomology variety of a \(kG\)-module \(M\) is given as a variety by the ideal of \(H^*(G,k)\) annihilating \(H^*(G,M)\). Numerous works explain the properties of this variety with respect to the representation theory of the group \(G\) over \(k\). It played an important rôle for example in the spectacular classification of endo-trivial modules for \(p\)-groups. \textit{J. Rickard} constructed [in J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 56, No. 1, 149-170 (1997; Zbl 0910.20034)] for each \(M\) infinitely generated \(kG\)-modules which are idempotent under tensor product and which turn some of the constructions for cohomology varieties into universal properties of certain subcategories. In [Q. J. Math. 58, No. 4, 415-441 (2007; Zbl 1130.18006)], \textit{P. Balmer} and \textit{G. Favi} constructed a gluing technique for certain subcategories of monoidal categories, inducing Mayer-Vietoris like sequences. The main result of the paper under review is an interpretation of the Balmer-Falvi gluing technique for gluing of endo-trivial \(kG\)-modules in terms of constructions on Rickard's idempotent modules. As a by-product the authors fix an error in [Rickard, loc. cit.]. Moreover, explicit examples are given for the dihedral group of order \(8\) and for the Klein four group. Finally it is shown how to develop by the gluing technique the description of the rank of the group of endo-trivial modules.