The D-Module structure of R[F]-modules

Abstract

Let R be a regular ring essentially of finite type over a perfect field k. An R-module M is called a unit R[F]-module if it comes equipped with an isomorphism F*M-->M where F denotes the Frobenius map on Spec R, and F* is the associated pullback functor. It is well known that M then carries a natural D-module structure. In this paper we investigate the relation between the unit R[F]-structure and the induced D-structure on M. In particular, it is shown that, if k is algebraically closed and M is a simple finitely generated unit R[F]-module, then it is also simple as a D-module. An example showing the necessity of k being algebraically closed is also given.