Schemes of line modules I

It is proved that there exists a scheme that represents the functor of line modules over a graded algebra, and it is called the line scheme of the algebra. Its properties and its relationship to the point scheme are studied. If the line scheme of a quadratic, Auslander-regular algebra of global dimension 4 has dimension 1, then it determines the defining relations of the algebra. Moreover, the following counter-intuitive result is proved. If the zero locus of the defining relations of a quadratic (not necessarily regular) algebra on four generators with six defining relations is finite, then it determines the defining relations of the algebra. Although this result is non-commutative in nature, its proof uses only commutative theory. The structure of the line scheme and the point scheme of a 4-dimensional regular algebra is also used to determine basic incidence relations between line modules and point modules.