Generalization of a theorem of Clifford (Q312749): Difference between revisions

Studying the divisibility properties of an integral domain \(D\) is easy. Take the quotient field \(K\) of \(D\) and form \(G(D)=\{rD:r\in K\backslash \{0\}\}\). Order it by reverse inclusion, i.e., for \(rD,sD\) \(\in G(D),\) \(rD\leq sD\) if and only if \(rD\supseteq sD\) and voilà, you have a partially ordered abelian group, associated with your integral domain, and the group is also directed. But if you have a directed partially ordered abelian group \(H\) there is very little hope that you can find a domain \(D\) with \(G(D)\cong H\). However, \textit{W. Krull} in [J. Reine Angew. Math. 167, 160--196 (1932; Zbl 0004.09802)] showed that every totally ordered group is the group of divisibility of a valuation domain. This result was then extended by \textit{P. Jaffard} [J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 32, 203--280 (1953; Zbl 0051.01303)] to: a lattice-ordered group is the group of divisibility of a GCD domain. Ohm in turn observed that the GCD domain Jaffard constructed was indeed a Bezout domain (every two generated ideal is principal). Indeed if \(D \) is a GCD domain, and for \(rD,sD\) \(\in G(D)\) we define \(rD\vee sD=\mathrm{lcm} (r,s)D\) \(\in G(D)\) and \(rD\wedge sD=\mathrm{GCD}(r,s)D\) \(\in G(D)\) then \(G(D)\) is a lattice-ordered group. So GCD domains and lattice-ordered groups are intimately related. With the advancement of rings with zero divisors came the quest for results similar to those mentioned above. The trouble with rings with zero divisors is that unlike the integral domains you have to be careful when inverting elements. Hence, some researchers decided to consider the monoid of principal ideals \(\mathrm{DT}(R)=\{rR:r\in R\}\) of a ring \(R\) with zero divisors. They order it by reverse inclusion and call it the ``divisibility theory of the ring \(R\)''. The author of the paper under review chooses to study Bezout rings, rings with \(1\neq 0\) in which every two generated ideal is principal, of a special type: those that have only one minimal prime ideal, and says in the abstract: ``We prove that the multiplicative monoid of principal ideals partially ordered by reverse inclusion, called the divisibility theory, of a Bezout ring \(R\) with one minimal prime ideal is a factor of the positive cone of a lattice-ordered abelian group by an appropriate filter if the localization of \(R\) at its minimal prime ideal is not a field. This result extends a classical result of \textit{A. H. Clifford} [Am. J. Math. 76, 631--646 (1954; Zbl 0055.01503)] saying that the divisibility theory of a valuation ring is a Rees factor of the positive cone of a totally ordered abelian group and suggests to modify Kaplansky's (later disproved) conjecture [\textit{L. Fuchs} and \textit{L. Salce}, Modules over non-Noetherian domains. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2001; Zbl 0973.13001)] as to whether a Bezout ring whose localization at every minimal prime idea] has at least three ideals is the factor of an appropriate Bezout domain.'' Note: \textit{A. H. Clifford}'s result mentioned in the abstract is Theorem 3 in [Am. J. Math. 76, 631--646 (1954; Zbl 0055.01503)] cited in the abstract, and Kaplansky's problem is discussed on pages 356--358 of \textit{L. Fuchs} and \textit{L. Salce}'s book [Modules over non-Noetherian domains. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2001; Zbl 0973.13001)] mentioned in the abstract. I could not get hold of a pre-print of [the author and \textit{M. Siddoway}, ``Bezout monoids with one minimal m-prime filter'', Commun. Algebra (to appear)] referenced in the paper under review.