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For a finite acyclic quiver, the arrow ideal of a path algebra $R$ is nilpotent, and $A/R\cong {\prod }_{i\in Q_0}k$. If $S$ is a simple module, its submodule $RS$ is either zero or $S$. The latter would imply $R^{d}S=S$ for every $d$, contradicting nilpotence. Thus $RS=0$, and a simple module over the product of fields is supported at one coordinate. Therefore the simples are exactly $S(i)$, with $k$ at $i$, zero elsewhere, and zero arrows; the vertex $i$ is unique.

A finite-dimensional semisimple module is consequently ${⨁}_{i}S(i{)}^{\oplus n_i}$, where $n_i=\dim X_i$. Its dimension vector of a quiver representation determines its isomorphism class.

For an arbitrary finite quiver, cycles allowed, the vertex projective module of a path algebra is $P(i)=A{e}_i$. Its space at vertex $j$ has basis all paths from $i$ to $j$, and an arrow acts by adjoining that arrow at the end of the path. Its endomorphism ring iswhere $e_{i}A{e}_i$ is spanned by the closed paths based at $i$. The opposite multiplication appears because endomorphisms act by right multiplication.

The evaluation isomorphism for a vertex projective isFor $x\in X_i$, its inverse sends a path $p$ starting at $i$ to $px$. This proves both injectivity and surjectivity, and is natural in $X$. Vertex evaluation is exact, so $P(i)$ is a projective module; alternatively it is a direct summand of the free module $A$.

The closed-path corner of a path algebra is a domain: in a product of two nonzero linear combinations, choose their longest path lengths. Concatenation in that top degree has a unique cut at those lengths, so a product of two nonzero top coefficients cannot cancel. Hence its only idempotents are zero and one. The same is true of the opposite ring, proving $P(i)$ is an indecomposable module, even when cycles make it infinite-dimensional.

For $1\to 2\leftarrow 3$, the paths starting at vertex $1$ are $e_1$ and the arrow $1\to 2$. Thus the displayed $k\stackrel{1}{\to }k\leftarrow 0$ is $P(1)$ and is projective.

The dimension of a topological space by irreducible chains is the supremum of the integers $d$ for which there is a chain $Z_0⊊Z_1⊊\cdots ⊊Z_d$ of nonempty irreducible closed subsets of the space. Closedness here is relative to the given locally closed space. For varieties this is their Krull dimension.

An algebraic group is a group whose underlying space is an algebraic variety and whose multiplication $G\times G\to G$ and inversion $G\to G$ are morphisms. An algebraic group action on a variety $V$ is a morphism $G\times V\to V$ satisfying the identity and associativity axioms of a group action.

For the homomorphism $\phi$, the kernel is ${\phi }^{-1}(1_H)$, so the kernel is closed. To prove closedness of the image, use the Chevalley constructibility theorem: the image of a morphism of varieties is constructible. Thus $S=\phi (G)$ is a constructible subset of a variety and an abstract subgroup. Its closure $C$ is also a subgroup: translation by elements of $S$ preserves $C$, and continuity then extends multiplication and inversion to $C$.

A dense constructible subset contains a dense open subset $U$ of its closure. For $c\in C$, both $U$ and $cU$ are dense open subsets of $C$, so their intersection is nonempty. If $u=cv$ with $u,v\in U\subseteq S$, then $c=u{v}^{-1}\in S$. Hence $S=C$, proving that the image is closed. This is the principle that a constructible subgroup is closed.

Every nonempty fiber of $G\to S$ is a translate of $\ker \phi$ and has that same dimension. The fiber dimension theorem therefore givesThis dimension formula for an algebraic group homomorphism is a dimension statement, so it does not require separability of $\phi$.

For a dimension vector of a quiver representation $\mathbf{n}$, setThe base change action on quiver representations isThe entries are regular functions on the product of the general linear groups and the quiver representation space, because inverse entries are cofactors divided by the invertible determinant. Thus this is an algebraic group action.

For nonzero $\mathbf{n}$, let $\Delta k^{\times }$ be the common scalar subgroup $(\lambda I_{n_i}{)}_i$ and define $\mathrm{PGL}(\mathbf{n})=\mathrm{GL}(\mathbf{n})/\Delta k^{\times }$. Common scalars act trivially, so the formula descends to an algebraic group action of this projective base change group of a quiver. This is a quotient by one common scalar, not a product of the individual projective groups. If every $n_i=0$, the representation space is a point and both actions are taken to be trivial.

If $y=g\cdot x$, the component maps $g_i$ are invertible and satisfy $g_{t(\rho )}{f}_{\rho }=f_{\rho }^{\prime }{g}_{s(\rho )}$. Thus they define a quiver representation isomorphism $X_x\to X_y$. Conversely, any such isomorphism consists of invertible maps $g_i$, and its commuting squares rearrange to $f_{\rho }^{\prime }=g_{t(\rho )}{f}_{\rho }{g}_{s(\rho )}^{-1}$. ThereforeThe base change action on quiver representations consequently identifies its orbits exactly with isomorphism classes at fixed dimension vector of a quiver representation.

If $X$ is indecomposable, part (i) makes it a brick module. For its nonzero dimension vector of a quiver representation $\mathbf{n}$,The Tits form of a quiver takes integer values on integer vectors, so $q_Q(\mathbf{n})=1$ and $X$ has no self-extensions.

Conversely, suppose $\mathbf{n}$ has nonnegative integer entries and $q_Q(\mathbf{n})=1$. Choose a representation $M$ of that dimension vector whose orbit has maximal dimension. Such an orbit exists because dimensions are integers bounded by $\dim {\mathrm{Rep}}_Q(\mathbf{n})$. If $M=U\oplus V$ with nonzero $U,V$, a nonzero extension in either direction would, by part 5(c), produce a middle representation of the same dimension vector with larger orbit. Hence ${\mathrm{Ext}}_Q^1(U,V)={\mathrm{Ext}}_Q^1(V,U)=0$.

Writing $\mathbf{u}=\dim U$ and $\mathbf{v}=\dim V$, the Ringel form identity then givesThe last inequality uses positive integral values of $q_Q$ at both nonzero vectors. This contradiction makes $M$ indecomposable. Thus the indecomposable dimension vectors are exactly the positive roots $q_Q(\mathbf{n})=1$.