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An abelian category has enough projectives when every object admits an epimorphism from a projective object in a category. Repeating this on the kernel in a category constructs a projective resolution of every object. Finite direct sums of projective objects remain projective and give the degreewise split horseshoe construction.

For an additive contravariant left-exact functor, apply it to a projective resolution of $M$. Reversal of the arrows gives a cochain complex. Comparison maps lift using projectivity, and any two lifts are chain homotopic, so its cohomology is independent of the resolution. The functors are contravariant, vanish on projective modules in positive degrees, and send $0\to M^{\prime }\to M\to M^{\prime \prime }\to 0$ to $0\to F(M^{\prime \prime })\to F(M)\to F(M^{\prime })\to R^{1}F(M^{\prime \prime })\to \cdots$. Degreewise split resolutions from the horseshoe lemma yield this sequence.

An extension group is a value of an Ext functor. In degree one it classifies short exact sequences $0\to N\to E\to M\to 0$ up to isomorphisms fixing the endpoints. The zero class is the split extension; its addition is the Baer sum. Higher degrees can be represented by longer exact extensions, or computed from a projective resolution.

With trivial action on both end modules, an extension has underlying abelian group ${\mathbb{Z}}^r\oplus {\mathbb{Z}}^s$ and generator action $\left(\begin{array}{cc}I& T\\ 0& I\end{array}\right)$. The integer matrix $T$ is invariant under equivalences fixing the ends. The one-element projective resolution with differential $z-1$ computes the same classification over the group ring.

The Ext functors are the right derived functors of the Hom functor. They can be computed by applying ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(-,N)$ to a projective resolution of $M$ and taking cohomology.

A free resolution is a projective resolution in which every resolving module is a free module.

The global dimension of a ring is the supremum of the projective dimensions of all its modules, allowing infinity. It measures the longest projective resolution needed by any module. For a field it is zero, since every module is a vector space and hence free.

Group homology is obtained by tensoring a projective resolution of the trivial $\mathbb{Z}G$-module with a coefficient module and taking homology.

A ring is left hereditary if every submodule of a left projective module is projective. Equivalently, every left module has a projective resolution of length at most one. The standard projective resolution of a quiver representation, used also for arbitrary infinite-dimensional modules, proves that path algebras are left hereditary.

The integral cohomological dimension is the least length of a projective resolution of the trivial group ring module $\mathbb{Z}$, equivalently the largest degree in which group cohomology with some module can be nonzero. A group containing torsion has infinite integral cohomological dimension. For ${\mathbb{Z}}^r$ the dimension is $r$, realized by its torus classifying space and detected by its top cohomology.

For a regular sequence $f_1,\dots ,f_r$ in a commutative ring $R$, its Koszul complex is the finite free projective resolution of $R/(f_1,\dots ,f_r)$ with terms ${\bigwedge }^j{R}^r$ and boundary map contracting by $(f_1,\dots ,f_r)$. Exactness follows by induction: append $f_r$ using the mapping cone for multiplication by $f_r$, which is injective on the preceding quotient. For a polynomial ring viewed as a bimodule, use the regular sequence $X_{i,\ell }-X_{i,r}$ in the enveloping algebra.

For an additive right-exact functor on module categories, apply it to a projective resolution and take homology. Lifts of module maps exist by projectivity; any two lifts are chain homotopic, giving independence and functoriality. The zeroth derived functor is naturally $F$, positive degrees vanish on projective modules, and the horseshoe lemma produces a long exact homology sequence from each short exact sequence. A Tor functor is the left derived functor of a tensor product of modules functor.

For a right-exact additive functor out of an abelian category with enough projectives, apply the functor to a projective resolution and take homology objects. The zeroth derived functor is $F$, positive derived functors vanish on projective objects, and the degreewise split horseshoe lemma produces a long exact sequence from every short exact sequence in an abelian category. The target can be any abelian category, including an opposite category of one.

Use integral coefficients throughout, allowing a nontrivial orientation character. A dimension-$d$ Poincare duality group has a finite resolution by finitely generated projective group-ring modules andas abelian groups. The action on the top copy of $\mathbb{Z}$ may be by signs. This group-ring criterion is particularly suited to the Lyndon–Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence.

Apply that sequence to the extension with coefficient module $\mathbb{Z}G$:As an $N$-module, $\mathbb{Z}G$ is a direct sum of copies of $\mathbb{Z}N$ indexed by the cosets in $Q$. Cohomology of $N$ commutes with this direct sum because its projective resolution is finitely generated. Hence the inner cohomology vanishes except when $b=n$, where it is a direct sum of rank-one groups indexed by $Q$. The $Q$-action shifts these summands freely and transitively, with possible signs from the orientation module. Choosing a generator in one summand and transporting it by $Q$ identifies the resulting left $Q$-module with its regular module $\mathbb{Z}Q$. The residual right group action records the orientation twist; it need not be trivial.

Now the duality of $Q$ says that the only nonzero $E_2$ term is $(a,b)=(q,n)$ and that this term is $\mathbb{Z}$ as an abelian group. No differential can enter or leave it. Therefore $H^{\ast }(G;\mathbb{Z}G)$ has exactly the duality pattern in degree $n+q$. The usual extension-resolution construction also supplies a resolution by finitely generated projective modules: combine the finite kernel and quotient resolutions, lift the quotient differentials and add the necessary homotopy corrections. Its total length is at most $n+q$. Alternatively, the same spectral sequence for arbitrary coefficient modules gives the dimension bound, while the extension finiteness lemma supplies finite generation of the resolution. The surviving top term makes the bound sharp. This proves the extension rule for Poincare duality groups:Requiring a trivial top orientation action would need an additional orientation condition; the untwisted conclusion is not implicit in the hypotheses.

We next need two precise auxiliary dimension results. The Strebel infinite-index subgroup theorem says that an infinite-index subgroup of an integral $P{D}^d$ group has integral cohomological dimension at most $d-1$. The Stallings-Swan theorem says that a group of integral cohomological dimension at most one is free, including the trivial group. Since $G/N$ contains an element of infinite order, $N$ has infinite index in $G$, so $\mathrm{cd}N\le 2$. If its dimension is at most one, the required free-group conclusion follows, with finite rank because $N$ is finitely presented.

Suppose instead that $\mathrm{cd}N=2$. Finite presentation gives a partial free resolution with finitely generated modules through degree two. The kernel in degree one is finitely generated and, because the integral cohomological dimension is two, projective. Truncating at this kernel gives a finite resolution by finitely generated projective modules. Thus $N$ has the finiteness needed for group-ring cohomology to commute with direct sums.

Choose an infinite-order element $\bar{t}\in G/N$, lift it to $t\in G$, and let $H$ be the preimage of $⟨\bar{t}⟩$. Then $H=N⋊⟨t⟩$. Restriction of $\mathbb{Z}H$ to $N$ yields copies of $\mathbb{Z}N$ indexed by all powers of $t$. For every $j$, the quotient generator acts on $H^j(N;\mathbb{Z}H)$ by shifting this direct sum, possibly with an automorphism on each copy. Its invariants vanish, since an invariant finite-support sequence must be zero. Its coinvariants are one copy of $H^j(N;\mathbb{Z}N)$: the shift relations identify successive copies, and any twists can be removed by transporting the identifications along the integer index.

The infinite cyclic group has integral cohomological dimension one, so only columns zero and one occur in the spectral sequence. Column zero vanishes and column one consists of these coinvariants. We obtain the cyclic-extension shift of group-ring cohomologyas abelian groups. Moreover $H^2(N;\mathbb{Z}N)\ne 0$. Here is a useful proof of that last point: if top cohomology of a finite projective resolution were zero, its last dual differential would be onto. Its target is projective, so that differential splits. Dualizing back splits the last injection of the original resolution, shortening it and contradicting integral cohomological dimension two.

It follows that $H^3(H;\mathbb{Z}H)\ne 0$, and hence $\mathrm{cd}H=3$. Strebel's theorem forces $H$ to have finite index in $G$. It is therefore itself a $P{D}^3$ group, by finite-index invariance of Poincare duality for torsion-free groups. The displayed shift now makes $H^j(N;\mathbb{Z}N)$ zero except for $j=2$, where it is $\mathbb{Z}$. Together with its finite projective resolution, this provesThe classification of two-dimensional Poincare duality groups identifies the latter with the fundamental group of a closed aspherical surface. This classification includes orientation-twisted surface groups; it does not include the two-sphere or real projective plane, whose fundamental groups do not have integral cohomological dimension two.

In this latter case we have also proved that $G/N$ is virtually infinite cyclic, since $H/N=⟨\bar{t}⟩$ has finite index. If necessary replace the surface group by its characteristic index-two orientable subgroup and take the subgroup generated by it and $t$. This still has finite index in $G$ and is a semidirect product of an orientable closed aspherical surface group by $\mathbb{Z}$. The Dehn-Nielsen-Baer theorem for closed orientable surfaces realizes the outer automorphism defined by conjugation by $t$ as a surface homeomorphism $f$. For the torus this is just realization of $G{L}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ by linear homeomorphisms. Changing the chosen lift accounts for an inner automorphism. The mapping torusis a surface bundle over $S^1$ with fundamental group ${\pi }_1(S){⋊}_{f_{\ast }}\mathbb{Z}$. Thus a finite-index subgroup of $G$ is the fundamental group of a surface fibration over the circle. Taking a further double cover of the base if required makes the monodromy orientation-preserving.

First correct the group-ring condition in the PDF. For an infinite group, a left-invariant element of $\mathbb{Z}\Gamma$ would have constant coefficients on the whole group; finite support then forces it to be zero. Hence $H^0(\Gamma ,\mathbb{Z}\Gamma )=0$. For a Poincare duality group of positive dimension, the correct condition isIt must be accompanied by the finiteness condition: the trivial module has a finite-length resolution by finitely generated projective modules. The module $D$ has a right group action, possibly an orientation-sign action. The degree-zero exception only applies to the trivial $P{D}^0$ group, not simultaneously to positive-dimensional groups.

Here is how the duality follows. Put $R=\mathbb{Z}\Gamma$ and take a length-$n$ projective resolution $P_{\ast }\to \mathbb{Z}$. Dualize to $P^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_R(P_{\ast },R)$. Its cohomology is zero except in degree $n$, where it is $D$. Reversing degrees therefore makes $Q_j=P_{n-j}^{\ast }$ a projective right-$R$ resolution of $D$. Finite generation and projectivity give, for every left $R$-module $V$, an isomorphism of cochain complexesTaking cohomology and reversing the grading yieldsSince $D$ has underlying abelian group $\mathbb{Z}$, its action is a sign character $\omega :\Gamma \to \{\pm 1\}$. Twisting the resolution by this character identifies the right side with group homology having coefficient module $D{\otimes }_{\mathbb{Z}}V$, with diagonal left action $\gamma (d\otimes v)=\omega (\gamma )d\otimes \gamma v$. ThusFor an orientable Poincare duality group, $D$ is trivial and this is untwisted Poincare duality. The natural isomorphism can equivalently be realized by cap product with the group fundamental class. The reversed finite projective complex explains why the top group-ring condition produces duality for every coefficient module, rather than just matching integral Betti numbers.

Now let $H$ have finite index in $\Gamma$. There is an isomorphism of left $\Gamma$-modulesOne explicit map sends $r\in \mathbb{Z}\Gamma$ to the $H$-linear function $g\mapsto {\mathrm{pr}}_H(gr)$, where ${\mathrm{pr}}_H$ retains only terms in $H$. Finite index ensures that all such functions arise in this way. Shapiro's lemma gives the isomorphismas abelian groups. If $\Gamma$ is a Poincare duality group, restricting its finite projective resolution to $H$ preserves projectivity and finite generation: the group ring is finite free over $\mathbb{Z}H$. This proves that $H$ is $P{D}^n$.

For the converse one needs the usual ambient torsion-free hypothesis. The standard finite-index resolution lemmas say that type $F{P}_{\infty }$ is preserved under finite-index passage, and that a torsion-free group of finite virtual cohomological dimension has the same integral cohomological dimension as a finite-index subgroup. Thus if $H$ is $P{D}^n$ and $\Gamma$ is torsion-free, $\Gamma$ has a finite resolution by finitely generated projective modules of length $n$. The preceding explicit coinduction and Shapiro calculation transfers exactly the required group-ring cohomology, and proves the finite-index invariance of Poincare duality for torsion-free groups.

Without that hypothesis the claimed converse is false. Take $\Gamma =\mathbb{Z}\times C_2$ and $H=\mathbb{Z}\times 1$. Then $H$ is index two and is $P{D}^1$, while $\Gamma$ contains torsion. Its integral cohomological dimension of a group is infinite: restriction of any putative finite projective resolution to $C_2$ would contradict the nonzero cohomology $H^{2j}(C_2,\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}/2$ for every $j\ge 1$. Also, orientability need not ascend: the torus subgroup of the Klein-bottle group has trivial orientation action, whereas the full group has a nontrivial one. The invariant theorem concerns the possibly twisted notion of $P{D}^n$.

Finally, a closed aspherical surface has a two-dimensional contractible universal cover and exactly this compact-support duality, so its surface group is $P{D}^2$. Conversely the algebraic condition forces the same local duality dimension and, in the orientable case, a nonsingular skew pairing on first cohomology, the familiar algebra of a closed orientable surface. Infinite-index subgroups behave like noncompact surfaces rather than closed ones. These are strong reasons to expect a surface group; in fact the $P{D}^2$ classification theorem confirms that every integral $P{D}^2$ group is the fundamental group of a closed aspherical surface. This includes the torus and, with orientation twist, the Klein bottle; the sphere and projective plane do not give $P{D}^2$ groups.

Since $M$ is a finitely generated module, choose a surjection from a finite free module, $F_0\twoheadrightarrow M$. A finite free module over a left Noetherian ring is a Noetherian module, so the kernel $K_1$ is finitely generated. Choose a finite free module $F_1$ surjecting onto $K_1$, then compose its map with $K_1\hookrightarrow F_0$. Its kernel is again finitely generated. Repeating constructs an exact sequencewith all $F_i$ finite free modules, hence finitely generated projective modules. Thus the requested projective resolution exists, without asserting that it has finite length.

Assume now that $M\ne 0$ and ${\mathrm{pd}}_{R}M=n<\infty$. We may arrange a length-$n$ projective resolution with all terms finite projective. Here is why the preceding construction gives one. Set $K_0=M$, with short exact sequences $0\to K_{j+1}\to F_j\to K_j\to 0$. Applying the Ext functor, whose positive degrees vanish on a projective first argument, gives by repeated dimension shiftingfor every left module $N$. The final equality follows from the existence of any length-$n$ projective resolution. Vanishing of these degree-one groups means that every short exact sequence ending in $K_n$ splits: its extension class is zero. In particular a free surjection onto $K_n$ splits, so $K_n$ is a projective module. It is finitely generated by the Noetherian kernel construction. Use $P_n=K_n$ and $P_j=F_j$ for $j<n$ to obtainFor a left finite projective module $P$, put $P^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_R(P,R)$, a right module under $(fr)(p)=f(p)r$. It is a right finite projective module, and its natural evaluation mapis an isomorphism. These claims hold for a finite free module by coordinates, and pass to direct summands, proving them for every finite projective module without any right-Noetherian hypothesis.

Suppose $n\ge 1$ and ${\mathrm{Ext}}_R^n(M,R)=0$. Computing the Ext functor from this resolution shows that its last dual mapis surjective. Since $P_n^{\ast }$ is projective as a right module, this map has a right-module section $h:P_n^{\ast }\to P_{n-1}^{\ast }$, with $d_n^{\ast }h=1$. Dualizing gives $h^{\ast }{d}_n^{\ast \ast }=1$. Under the natural double-dual identifications, $d_n^{\ast \ast }$ is $d_n$, so this gives a left-module retraction of $d_n$.

Therefore $P_{n-1}=d_n(P_n)\oplus Q$ for a finite projective module $Q$. The next differential has kernel $d_n(P_n)$, so restricting it to $Q$ gives an exact resolution with $Q$ replacing $P_{n-1}$ and the initial $P_n$ removed. This has length $n-1$, contradicting the definition of projective dimension. For $n=0$, the nonzero $M$ is a finite projective module and a summand of some $R^d$. A nonzero vector in that summand has a nonzero coordinate, so one coordinate projection restricts to a nonzero map $M\to R$. Thus the degree-zero Hom functor is nonzero as well. We have provedThis is top Ext detects finite projective dimension over a left Noetherian ring. The nonzero-module convention matters when $n=0$: if one assigns projective dimension zero to the zero module, then ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(0,R)=0$ is an exception. With the convention ${\mathrm{pd}}_{R}0=-\infty$, it is outside the asserted finite nonnegative case.

For an example of infinite projective dimension, take the dual numbers $R=k[\epsilon ]/({\epsilon }^2)$ over a field $k$, and $M=k=R/(\epsilon )$. The periodic resolution over dual numbers isIt is exact because both the kernel and image of multiplication by $\epsilon$ are the ideal $(\epsilon )$, and that is also the kernel of $R\to k$. Applying ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(-,k)$ gives a copy of $k$ in every degree and zero differentials, since $\epsilon$ acts as zero on $k$. ConsequentlyA finite projective resolution would make these groups zero above its length, so