Minimal modules over valuation domains

Let R be a valuation domain. We say that a torsion-free R-module is minimal if it is isomorphic to all its submodules of finite index. Here, the usual concept of finite index for groups is replaced by the more appropriate (for module theory) definition: a submodule H of the module G is said to be of finite index in G if the quotient G/H is a finitely presented torsion module. We investigate minimality in various settings and show inter alia that over a maximal valuation domain, all torsion-free modules are minimal. Constructions of non-minimal modules are given by utilizing realization theorems of May and the authors. We also show that direct sums of minimal modules may fail to be minimal. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.