Wednesday, March 8, 2017

abstract algebra - Can extending a finite ground field make modules isomorphic?

\def\Hom{\mathrm{Hom}}Let k be a field, A a k-algebra and let M and N be A-modules, finite dimensional over k. Let K be an extension of k, so A \otimes K is a K-algebra and M \otimes K and N \otimes K are A \otimes K modules.




I would like to say that, if M \otimes K \cong N \otimes K, then M \cong N.




When k is infinite, there is a very easy proof. The K-vector space \Hom_{A\otimes K}(M\otimes K, N \otimes K) is simply \Hom_{A}(M,N) \otimes K. Saying M \cong N means that there is a matrix in \Hom_{A}(M, N) with nonzero determinant. If the polynomial \det( \ ) is nonzero somewhere after extending scalars, then it is already nonzero over k.



But, over a finite field, this argument is broken. If M and N were dimension 3 over k = \mathbb{F}_2, and \Hom(M,N) consisted of those matrices of the form \left( \begin{smallmatrix} x & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & y & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & x-y \end{smallmatrix} \right), then this matrix is singular for any (x,y) \in k^2, but in extension fields it can be invertible.




Nonetheless, I think I have an argument that the statement is true for finite fields as well. Has anyone seen this statement before? Is there an easy proof I missed?

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