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This criterion characterizes an injective module using extension from ideals. A left $R$-module is injective exactly when every homomorphism from a left ideal of $R$ extends to a homomorphism from $R$.

If global dimension is zero, every module is a projective module. Each short exact sequence splits because its quotient is projective. Conversely, splitting every short exact sequence makes each module a direct summand of a free module and therefore a projective module. Splitting also makes every module an injective module: for $A\hookrightarrow B$ choose a retraction $B\to A$ and compose it with any prescribed map out of $A$.

An object $I$ is injective when every morphism $A\to I$ extends across every monomorphism $A\hookrightarrow B$ to a morphism $B\to I$. This is the categorical extension property of an injective module or an injective sheaf; it is dual to the lifting property of a projective object in a category.

Write the affine variety as $X=\mathrm{Spec}A$. Its coordinate ring is Noetherian, and a coherent sheaf is $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$ for a finitely generated $A$-module $M$. We first justify the acyclic resolution used to compute its sheaf cohomology.

If $I$ is an injective module, then $\tilde{I}$ is a flasque sheaf. Indeed every open $U$ in this Noetherian scheme has the form $X\setminus V(\mathfrak{a})$ for a finitely generated ideal. Clearing denominators givesHere a homomorphism $h:{\mathfrak{a}}^n\to I$ gives, on a principal open $D(f)$ with $f\in \mathfrak{a}$, the fraction $h(f^n)/f^n$; the fractions agree on overlaps. Conversely choose fractions for a section on a finite principal-open cover. A common power clears their denominators and the finitely many compatibility relations. Multiplication by a further power of $\mathfrak{a}$ kills any elements supported on $V(\mathfrak{a})$, producing a well-defined map on some ${\mathfrak{a}}^n$. Changing that power accounts for the direct limit. This is the sheafification of an injective module is flasque construction. Since $I$ is injective, each map ${\mathfrak{a}}^n\to I$ extends to $A\to I$. Thus every section on every open extends to $X$. Extending globally and restricting again also proves surjectivity for restrictions between arbitrary opens.

Choose an injective module resolution $0\to M\to I^0\to I^1\to \cdots$. Localization is exact, so sheafifying gives a flasque resolution of $\mathcal{F}$. Its global-section complex is exactly $I^{\bullet }$, since $\Gamma (\mathrm{Spec}A,\tilde{I})=I$. This complex is exact in positive degrees, and a flasque resolution computes sheaf cohomology. ConsequentlyThe argument actually proves vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme, without finite generation of $M$.

For the intersection assertion, varieties are taken to be separated, as usual. The diagonal morphism $X\to X{\times }_{k}X$ is a closed immersion. Its inverse image over $U{\times }_{k}V$ identifies $U\cap V$ with a closed subvariety of the affine variety $U{\times }_{k}V$. A closed subvariety of an affine variety is affine: its coordinate ring is the ambient coordinate ring modulo its defining ideal. Thus $U\cap V$ is affine. Repeated application gives affine finite intersections. Without separatedness this statement need not hold.

Choose a finite affine open cover $(U_{\alpha })$ of the projective variety $X$. For ordered indices write $U_{{\alpha }_0\cdots {\alpha }_p}=U_{{\alpha }_0}\cap \cdots \cap U_{{\alpha }_p}$. The answer is the cohomology of the Čech cochain complexIn particular $H^0=\ker (C^0\to C^1)$ and, in positive degree,The chart modules $\Gamma (U_{\alpha },\mathcal{F})$, together with their restriction and gluing maps, supply the modules on overlaps by localization. The gluing maps are essential; abstract chart modules alone do not specify a sheaf.

For completeness, take a flasque resolution $\mathcal{F}\to {\mathcal{I}}^{\bullet }$ and its double complex of Čech cochain complexes on this cover. In the resolution direction, its cohomology is $H^q(U_{{\alpha }_0\cdots {\alpha }_p},\mathcal{F})$, which vanishes for $q>0$ by the affine result. In the cover direction, the augmented Čech cochain complex of a flasque sheaf is exact: sections can be extended from overlaps, successively adjusting a cocycle to eliminate one cover member at a time. Equivalently the augmented sheaf complex is stalkwise contracted by inserting a cover index containing the point. Thus computing the total cohomology in the two directions identifies Čech cohomology with sheaf cohomology, proving the displayed description.

A uniform module is a nonzero module in which any two nonzero submodules intersect nontrivially. An essential extension $V\subseteq E$ means that $V$ is an essential submodule of $E$: every nonzero submodule of $E$ meets $V$. Since $R$ is a left Noetherian ring, the finitely generated $M$ is a Noetherian module.

Every nonzero Noetherian module contains a uniform submodule. Otherwise split a nonuniform submodule into two disjoint nonzero submodules, retain one for further splitting and set the other aside. If no uniform submodule is reached, the pieces set aside form an infinite direct sum, whose partial sums contradict the ascending chain condition. Now successively choose uniform submodules disjoint from the current direct sum. The process again must stop by Noetherianity, giving $V={⨁}_{i=1}^r{V}_i\subseteq M$. At termination no nonzero submodule is disjoint from $V$, soThis proves the finite uniform decomposition of a Noetherian module.

An injective hull $E(M)$ is an injective module containing $M$ essentially. It is equivalently a minimal injective extension; we use the general existence theorem for injective hulls. To prove uniqueness, let $E_1,E_2$ be two hulls of $M$. Injectivity of $E_2$ extends the identity on $M$ to $f:E_1\to E_2$. Its kernel is disjoint from $M$ and therefore zero by essentiality. Its image is injective, so its inclusion splits in $E_2$. The complementary summand is disjoint from $M$, hence zero. Thus $f$ is an isomorphism fixing $M$.

A finite direct sum of injective modules is injective, and a finite direct sum of essential inclusions is essential. For the latter assertion, start with a nonzero vector and process its coordinates in turn: if a coordinate lies outside its specified essential submodule, multiply by a ring element taking that coordinate nontrivially into that submodule. Already processed coordinates stay inside their submodules; the chosen coordinate keeps the vector nonzero. Essentiality is also transitive. Consequently both $E(M)$ and ${⨁}_{i}E(V_i)$ are injective hulls of $V$, so uniqueness givesThe essential extension of a uniform module is uniform, since intersecting any two nonzero submodules with the original uniform module already gives a nonzero common intersection.

Write $E=E(V_i)$ and $S={\mathrm{End}}_R(E)$. If $f\in S$ is injective, its image is isomorphic to the injective module $E$, hence is a direct summand. Uniformity leaves no nonzero complementary summand, so $f$ is an automorphism. Therefore the nonunits are exactly the noninjective endomorphisms. Let $J$ be their set. Two such maps have nonzero kernels, whose intersection is nonzero by uniformity; their sum kills this intersection. For a product, composition on the left preserves the original kernel. Composition on the right either has a noninjective right factor, or that factor is an automorphism and transports the original nonzero kernel. Thus $J$ is a proper two-sided ideal. Every element outside $J$ is a unit, so every nonzero residue class is invertible and every proper left or right ideal is contained in $J$. This proves the local endomorphism ring of a uniform injective module assertion:For the whole hull, let $E_i=E(V_i)$. Its endomorphism ring is the ring of finite block matriceswith multiplication given by summing compositions. The diagonal entries have the local rings just proved. Off-diagonal entries are homomorphism groups, not necessarily zero; in particular this ring is not generally the product of its diagonal rings. Repeated isomorphic summands give matrix blocks over their common local endomorphism ring.

For the left regular module of $A_1(\mathbb{C})$, the Bernstein filtration has graded ring $\mathbb{C}[x,\xi ]$, so finite leading-term cancellation proves that $A_1$ is left and right Noetherian and a domain. Let $Q$ be its classical division ring of fractions. It is an essential extension of $A_1$: a nonzero fraction $q=s^{-1}a$ satisfies $sq=a\ne 0$ in $A_1$.

To prove that $Q$ is injective, use the Baer criterion. For a homomorphism $f:I\to Q$ on a nonzero left ideal, fix $a\in I\setminus \{0\}$. For any nonzero $x\in I$, take common left multiples $sx=ta$ with $s,t\ne 0$. Then $sf(x)=tf(a)$, so in the division ringThus right multiplication by $a^{-1}f(a)$ extends $f$ from $I$ to $A_1$. The zero ideal is harmless. Hence $Q$ is injective and $E({}_{A_1}{A}_1)=Q$. For any $A_1$-linear endomorphism $F$ of $Q$, clearing the left denominator in $q$ gives $F(q)=qF(1)$. These are all right multiplications, and their composition reverses the multiplying elements. ThereforeThe opposite ring in the injective hull of an Ore domain computation is essential for left-module conventions.

Put $D=\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$. The character module $M^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathbb{Z}}(M,D)$ has the natural actionAdditivity is immediate, and $a(b\varphi )(m)=\varphi (bam)=\varphi (abm)$, using commutativity of $A$. The identity of $A$ acts as the identity. We establish the extension and duality tools used in the four implications, so no flatness or injectivity criterion is assumed without proof.

An injective module $E$ is one for which every homomorphism from a submodule $U\subseteq V$ extends to $V$. The Baer criterion says it suffices to test the inclusions of ideals $I\subseteq A$. Necessity follows directly from the definition. For sufficiency, suppose every $I\to E$ extends to $A$. Given $h:U\to E$, use Zorn's lemma to choose a maximal extension $(W,h_W)$ inside $V$; extensions along a chain have a well-defined union. If $v\in V\setminus W$, letThis is an ideal and an $A$-linear map. Its extension to $A$ has the form $a\mapsto ae$ for some $e\in E$. Thenis well-defined: if two expressions represent the same element, their coefficient difference lies in $I$, where the two prescribed values agree. It extends $h_W$ to the strictly larger module $W+Av$, a contradiction. Thus $W=V$, proving the Baer criterion for arbitrary modules and ideals.

The group $D$ is divisible. A homomorphism $n\mathbb{Z}\to D$, for $n>0$, extends to $\mathbb{Z}$ by choosing $d\in D$ with $nd$ equal to its value at $n$; the zero ideal causes no restriction. The proved Baer criterion over $\mathbb{Z}$ therefore makes $D$ injective. It is also a cogenerator: a nonzero element $x$ of an abelian group generates either a finite cyclic group of order $n>1$, which maps $x$ to $1/n+\mathbb{Z}$, or an infinite cyclic group, which maps $x$ to $1/2+\mathbb{Z}$. Injectivity extends this character to the whole group. Thus every nonzero element is detected by an additive character.

It follows that a group homomorphism $u:T\to U$ is injective exactly whenis surjective. For an injection, extension into the injective group $D$ proves surjectivity. Conversely, a character nonzero on an element of $\ker u$ cannot be the pullback of a character on $U$. This is the detection property of the injective cogenerator of abelian groups.

Finally, for any $A$-module $N$ there is a natural character form of the Tensor-hom adjunction:An $A$-linear map $h$ gives the pairing $(n,m)\mapsto h(n)(m)$. It is balanced because $h(an)(m)=(ah(n))(m)=h(n)(am)$. Conversely a balanced additive pairing determines $h$ by this formula. The universal property of the tensor product of modules makes these constructions mutually inverse, and compatible with restriction maps.

Set $S=R\setminus P$, a multiplicative subset. The localization at a prime ideal is $R_P=S^{-1}R$, whose elements are fractions $r/s$. Equality of two fractions means that $u(r{s}^{\prime }-r^{\prime }s)=0$ for some $u\in S$. Likewise the localization of a module is $M_P=S^{-1}M$, withAddition uses a common denominator, and the module action isThe equivalence relations make these operations well-defined, so $M_P$ is an $R_P$-module.

If $M\ne 0$, choose $0\ne m\in M$. Its annihilator is proper, so it lies in a maximal ideal $P$. The element $m/1$ cannot vanish in $M_P$: vanishing would mean $sm=0$ for some $s\notin P$, contrary to ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(m)\subseteq P$. The converse is immediate by localizing the zero module. ThusThis proof of localization detects zero elements actually applies to arbitrary modules, without finite-generation or Noetherian assumptions. We will use that extra generality for an Ext functor module below.

An injective module $E$ has the extension property: for each inclusion $A\hookrightarrow B$, every map $A\to E$ extends to a map $B\to E$. Equivalently, ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(-,E)$ is exact. A projective module $Q$ has the lifting property: for each surjection $B\twoheadrightarrow C$, every map $Q\to C$ lifts to $Q\to B$. Equivalently, ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(Q,-)$ is exact, or $Q$ is a direct summand of a free module.

For the local criterion for injectivity over a Noetherian ring, recall the Baer criterion: $E$ is injective precisely when every map from an ideal $J\subseteq R$ into $E$ extends to $R$. Through the short exact sequence $0\to J\to R\to R/J\to 0$, this is equivalent toWe also need localization of Ext over a Noetherian ring. Because $R$ is Noetherian, the module $R/J$ has a free resolution with every term finitely generated: all successive kernels are finitely generated, so this can be built recursively. For a finite free term $F$, the natural mapis an isomorphism, as is clear from a finite basis. Exactness of localization lets us pass to cohomology of the Hom complex. ThereforeThis explains the finiteness hypothesis needed for the localization argument, rather than assuming that localization preserves injectivity automatically.

If $M$ is injective, the left-hand side vanishes for every $J$ and $P$. Every ideal $L$ of $R_P$ is $J{R}_P$, where $J$ is its contraction to $R$: if $r/s\in L$, then $r/1=s(r/s)\in L$, and conversely localization of a member of the contraction stays in $L$. Hence all ideal tests for $M_P$ vanish, and the Baer criterion over $R_P$ makes $M_P$ injective.

Conversely, suppose every $M_P$ is injective. For each ideal $J$, the displayed Ext functor localization is zero at every prime. The zero-detection argument above gives ${\mathrm{Ext}}_R^1(R/J,M)=0$, without needing this Ext module to be finitely generated. Applying the Baer criterion over $R$ provesIn fact, under the Noetherian ring hypothesis this equivalence holds for arbitrary $M$; the printed finite-generation assumption is more than is needed.

The global dimension iswhere projective dimension is the smallest length of a projective resolution, or infinity if there is no finite one. If $\mathrm{gldim}R=0$, every module is projective. Given an inclusion $A\hookrightarrow B$, the quotient $B/A$ is then projective, so the exact sequence $0\to A\to B\to B/A\to 0$ splits. A retraction $\rho :B\to A$ exists. For any module $E$ and any map $f:A\to E$, the composition $f\rho :B\to E$ extends $f$. Thus every module is also injective. Global dimension zero makes all modules both projective and injective, as recorded by global dimension zero and split exact sequences.

A module $E$ is injective if every map $A\to E$ extends across every inclusion $A\hookrightarrow B$. Baer criterion says it suffices to test inclusions of left ideals $I\hookrightarrow R$.

Necessity is immediate. Conversely, order all extensions of a given map $A\to E$ to intermediate submodules of $B$. A maximal one exists by Zorn's lemma. If its domain $C$ is not $B$, choose $b\notin C$ and let $I=\{r:rb\in C\}$. The map $I\to E$, $r\mapsto f(rb)$, extends to $R$ by the hypothesis; its value at $1$ extends $f$ to $C+Rb$, contradicting maximality. Thus $C=B$.

For a Noetherian ring $A$, an injective module $I$ gives a flasque sheaf on $\mathrm{Spec}A$. If $U=\mathrm{Spec}A\setminus V(\mathfrak{a})$, clearing denominators on finitely many principal opens identifies $\Gamma (U,\tilde{I})$ with ${\underrightarrow{\lim }}_n{\mathrm{Hom}}_A({\mathfrak{a}}^n,I)$. Each map extends to $A$ by injectivity. Thus every section on $U$ extends globally, and all restriction maps are surjective. This concerns sheafification of an injective module, rather than the different assertion that an injective sheaf of modules is flasque.