Absolutely Koszul algebras and the Backelin-Roos property

We study absolutely Koszul algebras, Koszul algebras with the Backelin-Roos property and their behavior under standard algebraic operations. In particular, we identify some Veronese subrings of polynomial rings that have the Backelin-Roos property and conjecture that the list is indeed complete. Among other things, we prove that every universally Koszul ring defined by monomials has the Backelin-Roos property

On the cohomological spectrum and support varieties for infinitesimal unipotent supergroup schemes

We show that if $G$ is an infinitesimal elementary supergroup scheme of height $\leq r$, then the cohomological spectrum $|G|$ of $G$ is naturally homeomorphic to the variety $\mathcal{N}_r(G)$ of supergroup homomorphisms $\rho: \mathbb{M}_r \rightarrow G$ from a certain (non-algebraic) affine supergroup scheme $\mathbb{M}_r$ into $G$. In the case $r=1$, we further identify the cohomological support variety of a finite-dimensional $G$-supermodule $M$ as a subset of $\mathcal{N}_1(G)$. We then discuss how our methods, when combined with recently-announced results by Benson, Iyengar, Krause, and Pevtsova, can be applied to extend the homeomorphism $\mathcal{N}_r(G) \cong |G|$ to arbitrary infinitesimal unipotent supergroup schemes.Comment: Fixed some algebra misidentifications, primarily in Sections 1.3 and 3.3. Simplified the proof of Proposition 3.3.

Brauer-Thrall for totally reflexive modules over local rings of higher dimension

Let $R$ be a commutative Noetherian local ring. Assume that $R$ has a pair $\{x,y\}$ of exact zerodivisors such that $\dim R/(x,y)\ge2$ and all totally reflexive $R/(x)$-modules are free. We show that the first and second Brauer--Thrall type theorems hold for the category of totally reflexive $R$-modules. More precisely, we prove that, for infinitely many integers $n$, there exists an indecomposable totally reflexive $R$-module of multiplicity $n$. Moreover, if the residue field of $R$ is infinite, we prove that there exist infinitely many isomorphism classes of indecomposable totally reflexive $R$-modules of multiplicity $n$.Comment: to appear in Algebras and Representation Theor

Decompactifications and Massless D-Branes in Hybrid Models

A method of determining the mass spectrum of BPS D-branes in any phase limit of a gauged linear sigma model is introduced. A ring associated to monodromy is defined and one considers K-theory to be a module over this ring. A simple but interesting class of hybrid models with Landau-Ginzburg fibres over CPn are analyzed using special Kaehler geometry and D-brane probes. In some cases the hybrid limit is an infinite distance in moduli space and corresponds to a decompactification. In other cases the hybrid limit is at a finite distance and acquires massless D-branes. An example studied appears to correspond to a novel theory of supergravity with an SU(2) gauge symmetry where the gauge and gravitational couplings are necessarily tied to each other.Comment: PDF-LaTeX, 34 pages, 2 mps figure