Key polynomials for simple extensions of valued fields

Let $\iota:K\hookrightarrow L\cong K(x)$ be a simple transcendental extension of valued fields, where $K$ is equipped with a valuation $\nu$ of rank 1. That is, we assume given a rank 1 valuation $\nu$ of $K$ and its extension $\nu'$ to $L$. Let $(R_\nu,M_\nu,k_\nu)$ denote the valuation ring of $\nu$. The purpose of this paper is to present a refined version of MacLane's theory of key polynomials, similar to those considered by M. Vaqui\'e, and reminiscent of related objects studied by Abhyankar and Moh (approximate roots) and T.C. Kuo. Namely, we associate to $\iota$ a countable well ordered set $$\mathbf{Q}=\{Q_i\}_{i\in\Lambda}\subset K[x];$$ the $Q_i$ are called {\bf key polynomials}. Key polynomials $Q_i$ which have no immediate predecessor are called {\bf limit key polynomials}. Let $\beta_i=\nu'(Q_i)$. We give an explicit description of the limit key polynomials (which may be viewed as a generalization of the Artin--Schreier polynomials). We also give an upper bound on the order type of the set of key polynomials. Namely, we show that if $\operatorname{char}\ k_\nu=0$ then the set of key polynomials has order type at most $\omega$, while in the case $\operatorname{char}\ k_\nu=p>0$ this order type is bounded above by $\omega\times\omega$, where $\omega$ stands for the first infinite ordinal.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:math/060519

Rank one discrete valuations of power series fields

In this paper we study the rank one discrete valuations of the field $k((X_1,..., X_n))$ whose center in k\lcor\X\rcor is the maximal ideal. In sections 2 to 6 we give a construction of a system of parametric equations describing such valuations. This amounts to finding a parameter and a field of coefficients. We devote section 2 to finding an element of value 1, that is, a parameter. The field of coefficients is the residue field of the valuation, and it is given in section 5. The constructions given in these sections are not effective in the general case, because we need either to use the Zorn's lemma or to know explicitly a section $\sigma$ of the natural homomorphism R_v\to\d between the ring and the residue field of the valuation $v$. However, as a consequence of this construction, in section 7, we prove that k((\X)) can be embedded into a field L((\Y)), where $L$ is an algebraic extension of $k$ and the {\em ``extended valuation'' is as close as possible to the usual order function}

Extending a valuation centred in a local domain to the formal completion

International audienc

Resolution of Singularities: an Introduction.

International audienceThe problem of resolution of singularities and its solution in various contexts can be traced back to I. Newton and B. Riemann. This paper is an attempt to give a survey of the subject starting with Newton till the modern times, as well as to discuss some of the main open problems that remain to be solved. The main topics covered are the early days of resolution (fields of characteristic zero and dimension up to three), Zariski's approach via valuations, Hironaka's celebrated result in characteristic zero and all dimensions and its subsequent strenthenings and simplifications, existing resutls in positive characteristic (mostly up to dimension three), de Jong's approach via semi-stable reduction, Nash and higher Nash blowing up, as well as reduction of singuarities of vector fields and foliations. In many places, we have tried to summarize the main ideas of proofs of various results without getting too much into technical details