Finite-dimensional algebras with smallest resolutions of simple modules

Abstract

Let $X$ be a finitely generated left module over a left artinian ring $R$, and let $p(X)=\{l_i\}$ be the infinite sequence of nonnegative integers where $l_i$ is the length of the $i$-th term of the minimal projective resolution of $X$. We introduce a preorder relation $\le$ on the set $\{p(X)\}$ and characterize the elementary finite-dimensional algebras $\Lambda$ with the following property. Let $S$ be a simple $\Lambda$-module, and let $T$ be a finitely generated module over an arbitrary left artinian ring $R$. If the projective dimension of $S$ does not exceed the projective dimension of $T$, then $p(S)\le p(T)$. We characterize the indicated algebras by quivers with relations.

Minor revisions, to appear in Journal of Algebra