Bass modules and embeddings into free modules

Abstract

We show that the free module of infinite rank $R^{(\kappa)}$ purely embeds every $\kappa$-generated flat left $R$-module iff $R$ is left perfect. Using a Bass module corresponding to a descending chain of principal right ideals, we construct a model of the theory $T$ of $R^{(\kappa)}$ whose projectivity is equivalent to left perfectness, which allows to add a `stronger' equivalent condition: $R^{(\kappa)}$ purely embeds every $\kappa$-generated flat left $R$-module which is a model of $T$. We extend the model-theoretic construction of this Bass module to arbitrary descending chains of pp formulas, resulting in a `Bass theory' of pure-projective modules. We put this new theory to use by, among other things, reproving an old result of Daniel Simson about pure-semisimple rings and Mittag-Leffler modules. This paper is a condensed version, solely about modules, of our larger work arXiv:2407.15864, with two new results added about cyclically presented modules (Cor.14) and finitely presented cyclic modules (Rem.15).