An -module is a semisimple module when it is a direct sum of simple modules, equivalently when every submodule has a complementary submodule. The finite-dimensional algebra is a semisimple algebra when its left regular module is semisimple.
Let , put , and suppose . The freshman's dream gives
so, with ,
The indecomposable modules of a cyclic p-group in characteristic p are precisely
Indeed, a module is a vector space with a nilpotent operator , and its decomposition into Nilpotent Jordan blocks gives these modules. Each is a uniserial module, with unique chain
Therefore
The radical of a module is the smallest submodule for which is a semisimple module. Consequently, if
has semisimple successive quotients, then . Induction gives
so the radical series of a module descends at least as fast as every such series.
Dually, the socle is the largest semisimple submodule. If
has semisimple successive quotients, induction in gives
so the socle series of a module ascends at least as fast as every such series.
Both series terminate because has finite composition length. More precisely,
Thus exactly when annihilates all of , which is exactly when . The two least terminating indices therefore coincide:
Because is a finite-dimensional semisimple module, it has an isotypic decomposition
where the are pairwise nonisomorphic simple right -modules. By Schur lemma,
is a division ring, while for . Consequently every endomorphism preserves the isotypic summands and is a matrix of entries from on each one. Therefore
If the ground field is algebraically closed and the are finite-dimensional over it, Schur lemma gives .
Radical of a module Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-11-05
The radical of a module is the intersection of its maximal submodules. For a finite-dimensional module over a finite-dimensional algebra ,
and it is the smallest submodule for which is a semisimple module.
Socle (mathematics) Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-11-05
The socle of a module is the sum of all its simple submodules, equivalently its largest semisimple module.
For a nonzero finitely generated indecomposable module that is a projective module over a right Artinian ring , its top is a simple module. The Jacobson radical is a nilpotent ideal, so the top is nonzero; the quotient is a semisimple module over the semisimple ring . If it decomposed, a nontrivial idempotent of its endomorphism ring would lift by projectivity to an endomorphism of . The Hopkins-Levitzki theorem gives finite composition length, and the Fitting lemma makes the lift either invertible or nilpotent. Its induced map on the top would have the same property, impossible for that nontrivial idempotent.