On the idempotence and stability of kernel functors

A kernel functor (equivalently, a left exact torsion preradical) is a left exact subfunctor of the identity on the category R-mod of left R-modules over a ring R with identity. A kernel functor is said to be idempotent if, in addition, σ satisfies σ(M / σ(M)) = 0 for every M ∊ R-mod. To every kernel functor / there corresponds a unique topologizing filter ℒσ = {I Ⅰ σ (R/I) = R/I} of left ideals and a unique class ℱσ = {M ∊ R-mod Ⅰ σ(M) = M} that is closed under homomorphic images, submodules, and direct sums. The idempotence of σ is characterized by either of the following additional conditions: (1) if I ∊ ℒσ, K ⊆ I, and (K:x) = {r ∊ R ∣ rx ∊ K} ∊ ℒσ for each x ∊ I, then K ∊ ℒ or (2) ℱσ is closed under extensions of one member of ℱσ by another member of ℱσ Idempotent kernel functors are important since they are the tool used to construct localization functors. For M∊ R-mod, let E(M) denote the injective hull of M. A kernel functor σ is called stable if Mℱ implies that E(M) ∊ ℱσ For more information about kernel functors, see [6], [7], [14], and [15].