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Over a field of characteristic three, the group algebra $A=k{S}_3$ has a single block of an Artinian algebra. Put $r=(123)$, $s=(12)$ and $a=r-1$. Then $a^3=0$, $sas=-a+a^2$, and $J(A)=aA$: the latter is a nilpotent ideal, with semisimple ring quotient $k{C}_2$. The center of an associative algebra is $k1\oplus k{a}^2\oplus k{a}^{2}s$, whose last two summands form a square-zero ideal. A central idempotent $d1+n$ satisfies $d^2=d$ and $(2d-1)n=0$, hence is zero or one. Thus no nontrivial central block decomposition exists.

A semiprime ring has a classical right ring of quotients that is a semisimple ring and Artinian exactly when it is a right Goldie ring. In particular, the theorem applies to a semiprime ring that is a right Noetherian ring. It extends the fraction-field construction from commutative domains to rings whose quotient can be a finite product of matrix rings over division rings.

A right Artinian ring is a right Noetherian ring. Its right regular module therefore has finite composition length. Its Jacobson radical is a nilpotent ideal, and its quotient by that Jacobson radical is a semisimple ring. In particular every finitely generated right module over such a ring has finite composition length.

Let $R$ be a commutative Artinian ring. We prove finite composition length first, without assuming the conclusion that $R$ is Noetherian.

Every prime ideal is maximal. Indeed, an Artinian integral domain is a field: for $a\ne 0$, stabilization of $(a^m)$ gives $a^m=a^{m+1}b$, and cancellation gives $ab=1$. There are only finitely many maximal ideals. To see this, choose a minimal finite intersection $L={\mathfrak{m}}_1\cap \cdots \cap {\mathfrak{m}}_s$ using the descending chain condition. Minimality gives $L\subseteq \mathfrak{m}$ for any other maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$. Since ${\mathfrak{m}}_1\cdots {\mathfrak{m}}_s\subseteq L$, primeness forces one ${\mathfrak{m}}_i\subseteq \mathfrak{m}$, and maximality makes them equal. Thus the Jacobson radical $J$ is this finite intersection, and the Chinese remainder theorem gives

We also need nilpotence of $J$. Its powers stabilize; put $I=J^m$ at a stabilization stage, so $I^2=I$. If $I\ne 0$, choose an ideal $L$ minimal subject to $IL\ne 0$. Since $I(IL)=IL\ne 0$, minimality gives $IL=L$. Choose $a\in L$ with $Ia\ne 0$. Minimality applied to the subideal $Ra$ gives $L=Ra$. The equality $IL=L$ then yields $a=xa$ for some $x\in I\subseteq J$. But $1-x$ is a unit by the unit criterion for the Jacobson radical; hence $a=0$, a contradiction. Therefore $J^m=0$.

Each layer $J^i/J^{i+1}$ is an Artinian module over the finite product of fields $R/J$. Its components over those fields are finite-dimensional: an infinite-dimensional vector space has a strictly descending chain of subspaces. Each layer consequently has finite composition length. The finite filtrationproves that $R$ itself has finite composition length, and therefore satisfies the ascending chain condition on ideals. Every commutative Artinian ring is Noetherian. The zero ring satisfies the conclusion trivially.

The relevant Artin–Wedderburn theorem says that a semisimple ring which is a right Artinian ring has the formwhere the $D_i$ are division rings and the positive integers $n_i$ and division rings are unique up to permutation and isomorphism. The division rings need not be commutative or finite-dimensional over a field. Conversely every such finite product is semisimple and a right Artinian ring.

Here is a proof which also works if semisimplicity is initially expressed as $J(R)=0$. A nonzero right ideal contains a minimal nonzero right ideal $L$ by the descending chain condition; $L$ is a simple module. If $L^2=0$, then for every $l\in L$ and $r\in R$, $(lr{)}^2=0$, so $1-lr$ has inverse $1+lr$. The unit criterion for the Jacobson radical would give $L\subseteq J(R)=0$, a contradiction. Thus some $a\in L$ induces a nonzero map $L\to L$ by left multiplication. This map is an isomorphism, since $L$ is simple. Choose $e\in L$ with $ae=a$. Then $a(e^2-e)=0$ and injectivity on $L$ gives $e^2=e$. We obtain $L=eR$ and the splittingFor a right ideal $K$ containing $e$, the same argument splits $K=eR\oplus (K\cap (1-e)R)$. Repeatedly split a minimal right ideal out of the remaining summand. The remaining summands form a strictly descending chain of right ideals, so the process terminates. Thusfor pairwise nonisomorphic simple modules $S_i$.

A nonzero map between simple modules is an isomorphism: its kernel and image leave no alternatives. Thus $D_i={\mathrm{End}}_R(S_i)$ is a division ring, and ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(S_i,S_j)=0$ for $i\ne j$. This is the needed Schur lemma. Taking endomorphisms of the direct sum gives ${\prod }_i{M}_{n_i}(D_i)$. Finally, left multiplication identifies $R$ with ${\mathrm{End}}_R(R_R)$: a right-module endomorphism sends $r$ to $f(1)r$, and composition corresponds to multiplication in $R$, not its opposite. This proves the displayed ring isomorphism.

For the converse, the right regular module of $M_n(D)$ is the direct sum of its $n$ row modules. Each row module is simple, since elementary matrices and nonzero scalar inverses send any nonzero row to any prescribed row. A finite product therefore has a finite semisimple regular module and is a right Artinian ring. The simple-module multiplicities and their endomorphism division rings recover the factors, establishing uniqueness.

The ring form of the Artin–Wedderburn theorem states that the following conditions on a unital ring $R$ are equivalent: $R$ is a semisimple ring; $R$ satisfies the descending chain condition on left ideals and $J(R)=0$; andwhere $s$ is finite, each $n_i\ge 1$, and each $D_i$ is a division ring. The factors are unique up to permutation and isomorphism. The zero ring may be included as the empty product. This theorem also implies the corresponding right-handed statements.

First prove the implication from the chain condition and zero Jacobson radical. Among finite intersections of maximal left ideals, choose a minimal one, say $L=L_1\cap \cdots \cap L_t$. Such a minimal intersection exists by the descending chain condition. Intersecting with any other maximal left ideal cannot make $L$ smaller, so $L$ is contained in every maximal left ideal. Thus $L\subseteq J(R)=0$. It follows that the map of left modulesis injective. Each quotient is a simple module.

For completeness, a submodule $N$ of a finite direct sum $V={⨁}_j{T}_j$ of simple modules is itself a finite direct sum of simple modules and is a direct summand of $V$. Choose a sum $W$ of coordinate summands, maximal among those with $N\cap W=0$. For any omitted coordinate summand $T_j$, simplicity gives $T_j\cap (N+W)=0$ or $T_j\subseteq N+W$. In the first case $N\cap (W\oplus T_j)=0$, contradicting maximality; hence every coordinate summand lies in $N+W$. Therefore $V=N\oplus W$. Projection onto $N$ shows $N$ is a finite sum of images of the $T_j$, each image zero or simple. Add these images successively, discarding any image already in the sum: simplicity makes each new intersection zero. This yields a direct-sum decomposition. Applying this argument to the displayed injection proves that the left regular module is a finite sum of simple modules.

Conversely, if the regular module is a direct sum of simple modules, that sum is finite because $1$ lies in a finite subsum and generates the whole regular module. Every left ideal, being a submodule, has the preceding decomposition and splitting property. Its chain lengths are bounded by the number of simple summands, so the descending chain condition holds. The Jacobson radical annihilates every simple summand of the regular module, hence annihilates $1$ and is zero. This identifies the first two conditions.

Write the finite decomposition using pairwise nonisomorphic simple left modules:Every simple module is a quotient of $R$, by sending $1$ to any nonzero vector, so this list includes every simple isomorphism class. The Schur lemma gives ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(S_i,S_j)=0$ for $i\ne j$, and $E_i={\mathrm{End}}_R(S_i)$ is a division ring: any nonzero endomorphism has zero kernel and full image by simplicity. ConsequentlyEvery endomorphism of the left regular module is right multiplication by its value on $1$. Composition reverses multiplication of those values, so the left side is $R^{\mathrm{op}}$. Taking the opposite ring, and using transpose to identify $M_n(E{)}^{\mathrm{op}}$ with $M_n(E^{\mathrm{op}})$, gives the theorem's decomposition with $D_i=E_i^{\mathrm{op}}$. This keeps the left/right conventions explicit.

Conversely, the standard column module $D^n$ over $M_n(D)$ is simple: a nonzero coordinate of a vector can be inverted to construct a matrix sending it to any prescribed vector. The left regular module decomposes as the sum of its $n$ column ideals, each isomorphic to $D^n$. A finite product of these matrix rings is therefore a semisimple ring. This proves all implications. For uniqueness, the isomorphism classes of simple modules and their multiplicities in the regular module determine the numbers $n_i$ and the division rings $E_i^{\mathrm{op}}$. The multiplicity can also be recovered as the dimension of ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(S_i,R)$ as a right $E_i$-module, so it does not depend on the chosen decomposition.

Now let $A=\mathbb{C}[G]$ for the finite group $G$. It has dimension $|G|$, with the elements of $G$ as a basis, so its left ideals satisfy the descending chain condition by their dimensions. The permitted assumption $J(A)=0$ makes the Artin–Wedderburn theorem applicable. Its decomposition is a complex-algebra decompositionwith each $D_i$ finite-dimensional over the central copy of $\mathbb{C}$. Each such division algebra is just $\mathbb{C}$. Indeed, for $d\in D_i$, finite dimensionality gives a nonzero polynomial relation $p(d)=0$ with complex coefficients. Factor $p$ into linear factors over $\mathbb{C}$. Their product at $d$ is zero, so the absence of zero divisors forces $d-\lambda =0$ for some scalar root $\lambda$. Thus every element is scalar.

The pairwise nonisomorphic simple modules of ${\prod }_i{M}_{n_i}(\mathbb{C})$ are the column modules ${\mathbb{C}}^{n_i}$, with all other factors acting as zero. Hence ${\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}{S}_i=n_i$. Taking complex dimensions gives

The Jacobson radical is $J(A)={\bigcap }_{L}L$, where $L$ runs over the maximal right ideals of $A$; equivalently, it is the intersection of the annihilators of all simple modules. It is a two-sided ideal. A projective module has the lifting property against every surjective R-module homomorphism. A finitely generated module is a projective module precisely when it is a direct summand of a finitely generated free module. An indecomposable module is nonzero and admits no direct sum decomposition into two nonzero submodules.

To calculate the top of an indecomposable projective module, use the right Artinian ring hypothesis, namely the descending chain condition on right ideals. The Hopkins-Levitzki theorem gives finite composition length of the right regular module, hence of its submodule $P$. Also $J=J(A)$ is a nilpotent ideal, and $A/J$ is a semisimple ring. Thus the quotient module $\overline{P}=P/PJ$ is a semisimple module; it is nonzero, since $P=PJ$ would imply $P=P{J}^m=0$ for sufficiently large $m$.

Suppose $\overline{P}$ were not a simple module. A nontrivial direct sum decomposition of this semisimple module would give an idempotent $\alpha \in {\mathrm{End}}_A(\overline{P})$ that is neither zero nor the identity. Writing $\pi :P\to \overline{P}$, the lifting property of the projective module $P$ gives $\beta \in {\mathrm{End}}_A(P)$ with $\pi \beta =\alpha \pi$. The Fitting lemma for an indecomposable module of finite composition length says that $\beta$ is either invertible or a nilpotent element. Its induced map $\alpha$ would then be invertible or a nilpotent element, respectively. Neither is possible for a nontrivial idempotent. Therefore $P/PJ(A)$ is simple. This argument does not assume that an embedded projective module automatically splits off from the ambient module.

A block of an Artinian algebra is a nonzero two-sided direct summand $Ae$ determined by a primitive central idempotent $e$: $e$ cannot be written as a sum of two nonzero orthogonal central idempotents. Its identity is $e$. For a finite-dimensional associative algebra, the blocks of an Artinian algebra give its unique decomposition as a finite product of indecomposable algebras, or equivalently as a direct sum of two-sided ideals.

For the block of S3 in characteristic three, put $A=k{S}_3$, $r=(123)$, $s=(12)$ and $a=r-1$. The group algebra has basis $r^i,r^{i}s$ for $0\le i<3$. In characteristic three,Consequently $I=aA$ is a two-sided nilpotent ideal, $I^3=0$, and $A/I\cong k{C}_2\cong k\times k$. A nilpotent ideal lies in the Jacobson radical, and a quotient that is a semisimple ring forces the reverse inclusion. HenceDefine orthogonal idempotents $e_{+}=(1+s)/2$ and $e_{-}=(1-s)/2$. They sum to one, so the right regular module decomposes asThe two summands are the indecomposable projectives of S3 in characteristic three. Each direct summand is a projective module, with basis $e_{\pm },e_{\pm }r,e_{\pm }{r}^2$. Its quotient module modulo multiplication by $J(A)$ is one-dimensional: the trivial representation for $e_{+}A$, and the sign representation for $e_{-}A$. Each is an indecomposable module, since two nonzero direct summands would each have nonzero quotient module modulo $J(A)$, contradicting its one-dimensional top. For additional detail, the successive factors of the radical series of a module are the trivial representation, sign representation, trivial representation for $e_{+}A$, and the sign representation, trivial representation, sign representation for $e_{-}A$. Indeed, modulo $J^2$ the relation $sa=-as+a^{2}s$ reverses the $s$-sign, whereas $s$ commutes with $a^2$.

The center of an associative algebra is spanned by the conjugacy class sums $1$, $r+r^2$, and $(1+r+r^2)s$. Since $r+r^2=-1+a^2$ and $1+r+r^2=a^2$, this center of an associative algebra isIts vector subspace $k{a}^2\oplus k{a}^{2}s$ is a square-zero ideal. If $d1+n$ is a central idempotent, then $d^2=d$ and $(2d-1)n=0$. Thus $d=0$ or $1$ and $n=0$. There is no nontrivial central idempotent, so the whole group algebra is its single block. The two three-dimensional projective modules above are a decomposition of the regular module, not two blocks of an Artinian algebra.

True. This is the Artinian commutative ring is Noetherian theorem. One proof uses the nilpotent nilradical $N$ of an Artinian ring $A$. The quotient $A/N$ is a finite product of fields. Each quotient $N^j/N^{j+1}$ is an Artinian module over the semisimple ring $A/N$, hence has finite length and is Noetherian. The finite filtrationthen makes $A$ a Noetherian module over itself, which is exactly the ascending chain condition on its ideals.

A ring is semilocal when its quotient by the Jacobson radical is a semisimple ring that is Artinian. Equivalently, that quotient is a right Artinian ring: it has zero Jacobson radical, and the Artinian structure theorem makes it semisimple. A commutative ring is semilocal exactly when it has finitely many maximal ideals.

For a nonzero finitely generated indecomposable module $P$ that is a projective module over a right Artinian ring $A$, its top $P/PJ(A)$ is a simple module. The Jacobson radical $J(A)$ is a nilpotent ideal, so the top is nonzero; the quotient is a semisimple module over the semisimple ring $A/J(A)$. If it decomposed, a nontrivial idempotent of its endomorphism ring would lift by projectivity to an endomorphism of $P$. 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.