On the existence of non-free totally reflexive modules

Abstract

For a standard graded Cohen-Macaulay ring $S$, if the quotient $S/(\underline{x})$ admits non-free totally reflexive modules, where $\underline{x}$ is a system of parameters consisting of elements of degree one, then so does the ring $S$. As an application, we consider the question of which Stanley-Reisner rings of graphs admit non-free totally reflexive modules.