Assuming the existence of a monster model, tameness, and continuity of nonsplitting in an abstract elementary class (AEC), we extend known superstability results: let $\mu>\operatorname {LS}(\mathbf {K})$ be a regular stability cardinal and let $\chi $ be the local character of $\mu $-nonsplitting. The following holds:

1. 1. When $\mu $-nonforking is restricted to $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$-limit models ordered by universal extensions, it enjoys invariance, monotonicity, uniqueness, existence, extension, and continuity. It also has local character $\chi $. This generalizes Vasey’s result [37, Corollary 13.16] which assumed $\mu $-superstability to obtain same properties but with local character $\aleph _0$.

2. 2. There is $\lambda \in [\mu ,h(\mu ))$ such that if $\mathbf {K}$ is stable in every cardinal between $\mu $ and $\lambda $, then $\mathbf {K}$ has $\mu $-symmetry while $\mu $-nonforking in (1) has symmetry. In this case:

   1. (a) $\mathbf {K}$ has the uniqueness of $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$-limit models: if $M_1,M_2$ are both $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$-limit over some $M_0\in K_{\mu }$, then $M_1\cong _{M_0}M_2$;

   2. (b) any increasing chain of $\mu ^+$-saturated models of length $\geq \chi $ has a $\mu ^+$-saturated union. These generalize [31] and remove the symmetry assumption in [10, 38] .

Under $(<\mu )$-tameness, the conclusions of (1), (2)(a)(b) are equivalent to $\mathbf {K}$ having the $\chi $-local character of $\mu $-nonsplitting.

Grossberg and Vasey [18, 38] gave eventual superstability criteria for tame AECs with a monster model. We remove the high cardinal threshold and reduce the cardinal jump between equivalent superstability criteria. We also add two new superstability criteria to the list: a weaker version of solvability and the boundedness of the U-rank.

Fisher [10] and Baur [6] showed independently in the seventies that if T is a complete first-order theory extending the theory of modules, then the class of models of T with pure embeddings is stable. In [25, 2.12], it is asked if the same is true for any abstract elementary class $(K, \leq _p)$ such that K is a class of modules and $\leq _p$ is the pure submodule relation. In this paper we give some instances where this is true:Theorem.

Assume R is an associative ring with unity. Let $(K, \leq _p)$ be an AEC such that $K \subseteq R\text {-Mod}$

and K is closed under finite direct sums, then:

• • If K is closed under pure-injective envelopes, then $\mathbf {K}$ is $\lambda $ -stable for every $\lambda \geq \operatorname {LS}(\mathbf {K})$ such that $\lambda ^{|R| + \aleph _0}= \lambda $ .

• • If K is closed under pure submodules and pure epimorphic images, then $\mathbf {K}$ is $\lambda $ -stable for every $\lambda $ such that $\lambda ^{|R| + \aleph _0}= \lambda $ .

• • Assume R is Von Neumann regular. If $\mathbf {K}$ is closed under submodules and has arbitrarily large models, then $\mathbf {K}$ is $\lambda $ -stable for every $\lambda $ such that $\lambda ^{|R| + \aleph _0}= \lambda $ .

As an application of these results we give new characterizations of noetherian rings, pure-semisimple rings, Dedekind domains, and fields via superstability. Moreover, we show how these results can be used to show a link between being good in the stability hierarchy and being good in the axiomatizability hierarchy.

Another application is the existence of universal models with respect to pure embeddings in several classes of modules. Among them, the class of flat modules and the class of $\mathfrak {s}$ -torsion modules.

In the context of abstract elementary classes (AECs) with a monster model, several possible definitions of superstability have appeared in the literature. Among them are no long splitting chains, uniqueness of limit models, and solvability. Under the assumption that the class is tame and stable, we show that (asymptotically) no long splitting chains implies solvability and uniqueness of limit models implies no long splitting chains. Using known implications, we can then conclude that all the previously-mentioned definitions (and more) are equivalent:

• Corollary.LetKbe a tame AEC with a monster model. Assume thatKis stable in a proper class of cardinals. The following are equivalent:

  1. (1) For all high-enough λ,Khas no long splitting chains.

  2. (2) For all high-enough λ, there exists a good λ-frame on a skeleton ofKλ.

  3. (3) For all high-enough λ,Khas a unique limit model of cardinality λ.

  4. (4) For all high-enough λ,Khas a superlimit model of cardinality λ.

  5. (5) For all high-enough λ, the union of any increasing chain of λ-saturated models is λ-saturated.

  6. (6) There exists μ such that for all high-enough λ,Kis (λ,μ) -solvable.

This gives evidence that there is a clear notion of superstability in the framework of tame AECs with a monster model.

We prove that any tame abstract elementary class categorical in a suitable cardinal has an eventually global good frame: a forking-like notion defined on all types of single elements. This gives the first known general construction of a good frame in ZFC. We show that we already obtain a well-behaved independence relation assuming only a superstability-like hypothesis instead of categoricity. These methods are applied to obtain an upward stability transfer theorem from categoricity and tameness, as well as new conditions for uniqueness of limit models.

We prove that the definition of supersimplicity in metric structures from [7] is equivalent to an a priori stronger variant. This stronger variant is then used to prove that if T is a supersimple Hausdorff cat then so is its theory of lovely pairs.