Rigidity dimension of algebras

A new homological dimension, called rigidity dimension, is introduced to measure the quality of resolutions of finite dimensional algebras (especially of infinite global dimension) by algebras of finite global dimension and big dominant dimension. Upper bounds of the dimension are established in terms of extensions and of Hochschild cohomology, and finiteness in general is derived from homological conjectures. In particular, the rigidity dimension of a non-semisimple group algebra is finite and bounded by the order of the group. Then invariance under stable equivalences is shown to hold, with some exceptions when there are nodes in case of additive equivalences, and without exceptions in case of triangulated equivalences. Stable equivalences of Morita type and derived equivalences, both between self-injective algebras, are shown to preserve rigidity dimension as well.