Semi-local ring

In mathematics, a semi-local ring is a ring for which R/J(R) is a semisimple ring, where J(R) is the Jacobson radical of R. (Lam 2001, §20)(Mikhalev 2002, C.7)

The above definition is satisfied if R has a finite number of maximal right ideals (and finite number of maximal left ideals). When R is a commutative ring, the converse implication is also true, and so the definition of semi-local for commutative rings is often taken to be "having finitely many maximal ideals".

Some literature refers to a commutative semi-local ring in general as a quasi-semi-local ring, using semi-local ring to refer to a Noetherian ring with finitely many maximal ideals.

A semi-local ring is thus more general than a local ring, which has only one maximal (right/left/two-sided) ideal.

Examples

The quotient is a semi-local ring. In particular, if is a prime power, then is a local ring.

A finite direct sum of fields is a semi-local ring.