The Stacks project

Definition 42.2.1. Let $R$ be a ring.

1. A $2$-periodic complex over $R$ is given by a quadruple $(M, N, \varphi , \psi )$ consisting of $R$-modules $M$, $N$ and $R$-module maps $\varphi : M \to N$, $\psi : N \to M$ such that

   $$\xymatrix{ \ldots \ar[r] & M \ar[r]^\varphi & N \ar[r]^\psi & M \ar[r]^\varphi & N \ar[r] & \ldots }$$

   is a complex. In this setting we define the cohomology modules of the complex to be the $R$-modules

   $$H^0(M, N, \varphi , \psi ) = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(\varphi )/\mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(\psi ) \quad \text{and}\quad H^1(M, N, \varphi , \psi ) = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(\psi )/\mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(\varphi ).$$

   We say the $2$-periodic complex is exact if the cohomology groups are zero.

2. A $(2, 1)$-periodic complex over $R$ is given by a triple $(M, \varphi , \psi )$ consisting of an $R$-module $M$ and $R$-module maps $\varphi : M \to M$, $\psi : M \to M$ such that

   $$\xymatrix{ \ldots \ar[r] & M \ar[r]^\varphi & M \ar[r]^\psi & M \ar[r]^\varphi & M \ar[r] & \ldots }$$

   is a complex. Since this is a special case of a $2$-periodic complex we have its cohomology modules $H^0(M, \varphi , \psi )$, $H^1(M, \varphi , \psi )$ and a notion of exactness.