Remarks on modules of finite projective dimension

Abstract: We investigate homological and depth-theoretic properties of finitely generated modules of finite projective dimension over Noetherian local rings. A central theme is the study of criteria for freeness and reflexivity derived from the torsion-freeness or reflexivity of tensor products of the form ( M \otimes_R M ) and ( M \otimes_R M^* ). Under mild homological assumptions, we prove that such properties of these tensor products impose strong structural constraints on ( M ), often forcing it to be free. These results generalize classical theorems of Auslander beyond the regular case and contribute to the broader understanding of rigidity phenomena in commutative algebra. The second part of the paper is devoted to the dimension and support of Ext-modules, particularly ( {Ext}^i_R(M, R) ) for critical values of i, when ( M ) has finite projective dimension. We establish sharp bounds on their Krull dimensions, analyze their behavior for prime and equidimensional modules, and relate these findings to the grade conjecture and other homological conjectures. Applications include new cases of a question of Jorgensen, which asks whether ( {pd}(M) < i ) whenever ({Ext}^i_R(M, M) = 0 ) and M has finite projective dimension over a complete intersection ring. Finally, we examine the projective dimension of prime ideals in rings that fail chain conditions. We show that in non-catenary or pathological saturated chain settings, such prime ideals often have infinite projective dimension.