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Let $R$ be a commutative unitary ring, consider the exact sequence of $R$ - modules $ 0\rightarrow N\rightarrow M\rightarrow L\rightarrow0. $ We know that $\text{Ass}(M)\subseteq \text{Ass}(N)\cup \text{Ass}(L).$ My question is:

When (in what conditions on the ring $R$) do we have the equality $ \text{Ass}(M)=\text{Ass}(N)\cup \text{Ass}(L)? $ Can someone help me.

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    For example, in case $(R,\mathfrak{m})$ is a local artinian, we have $Ass(M)=Ass(M/N)\cup Ass(N)=\{\mathfrak{m}\}$ because $\mathfrak{m}$ is the only prime ideal (we suppose $N\subset M\ne0$). I wonder this hold in any weaker case?2012-11-08

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Recall that a prime ideal $\mathfrak p$ of $R$ is an associated prime of a module $M$ if and only if $M$ contains a submodule isomorphic to $R/\mathfrak p$. Equivalently, there exists $x\in M$ such that $\mathfrak p=\mathrm{Ann}_R(x)$.

So we always have $\mathrm{Ass}(N)\subseteq \mathrm{Ass}(M)$. So the only problem is to see when $\mathrm{Ass}(L)\subseteq \mathrm{Ass}(M)$ holds.

If the Krull dimension $\dim R>0$ (equivalent to non-artinian if $R$ is noetherian), then there are distinct prime ideals $\mathfrak p\subset \mathfrak m$. Consider the canonical surjection $M:=R/\mathfrak p\to L:=R/\mathfrak m.$ Then $\{\mathfrak m \}=\mathrm{Ass}(L) \not\subset \{\mathfrak p\}=\mathrm{Ass}(M) $.

So the rings $R$ for which the desired equality holds for all exact sequences are dimension zero.

Edit 2. The above conclusion is frustrating because it doesn't give any positive information when $\dim R>0$. However:

Suppose $R$ is noetherian. Consider $\mathrm{Spec}(R)$ with its Zariski topology. Then $\mathrm{Ass}(M)\subseteq \mathrm{Ass}(N)\cup \mathrm{Ass}(L)\subseteq \overline{\mathrm{Ass}(M)}.$

Proof. Let $\mathfrak p\in \mathrm{Ass}(L)$. We have to show that $\mathfrak p$ contains a $\mathfrak q\in \mathrm{Ass}(M)$. We can replace $L$ by a suitable submodule (and $M$ by the preimage of this submodule) and suppose $L$ is isomorphic to $R/\mathfrak p$. Suppose that $\mathfrak p$ doesn't contain any associated prime of $M$. Then the localization $M_{\mathfrak p}$ (viewed as an $R$-module) has no associated prime (Matsumura: Commutative algebra, Lemma (7.C)). So $M_{\mathfrak p}=0$ (op. cit., Cor. 1, p. 50). Hence for any $x\in M$, there exists $a\in R\setminus \mathfrak p$ with $ax=0$. So $a\phi(x)=0$ and $\phi(x)=0$, $M=\mathrm{ker}(\phi)$. Impossible.

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    @tlquy$e$n : I think "finite module" usually means finitely generated module, not module of finite length.2014-07-16