Definition

An R-module is called semisimple if it is isomorphic to a direct sum of simple submodules.

Equivalent conditions

The following conditions on an -module are equivalent:

  1. is a sum (not necessarily direct) of simple submodules
  2. is semisimple
  3. For every submodule , there exists a submodule such that

Importance

This equivalence says that the direct part of the definition is technically not necessary (but can be convenient).

It also implies that complements of submodules, i.e. splittings of all submodules is an important structure in determining semisimplicity.

Proof

todo - Lecture 22

As a nice subcategory

Any submodule or quotient of a semisimple -module is semisimple, thus

is a nice subcategory.

Proof

todo - Lecture 23