Generalized test ideals, sharp \(F\)-purity, and sharp test elements (Q1000637)

Let \(R\) be a reduced ring, \(\mathfrak{a}, I\) ideals of \(R\) such that \(\mathfrak{a} \cap R^o \neq \emptyset\). Let \(t >0\) be a real number. \textit{N. Hara} and \textit{Ken-ichi Yoshida} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 355, No. 8, 3143--3174 (2003; Zbl 1028.13003)] introduced the notion of \(\mathfrak{a}^t\)-tight closure of \(I\) that extends the more classical notion of tight closure of \(I\) of \textit{M. Hochster} and \textit{C. Huneke} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 3, No. 1, 31--116 (1990; Zbl 0701.13002)]. In similar fashion to tight closure theory, the \(\mathfrak{a}^t\)-tight closure naturally led to generalized test elements and a test ideal, denoted by \(\tau(\mathfrak{a}^t).\) However, even under rather strong hypotheses, the set of generalized test elements does not equal \(\tau(\mathfrak{a}^t) \cap R^o\). In this article, the author modifies the definition of a generalized test element such that the set of newly defined elements, now called sharp test elements, equals \(\tau(\mathfrak{a}^t) \cap R^o\). These elements can be used in \(\mathfrak{a}^t\)-tight closure tests. This notion also leads to a variant of F-purity for pairs. The author defines the sharp F-purity of a pair \((R, \mathfrak{a}^t)\) as a variant of the strong F-purity of \textit{S. Takagi} and \textit{Kei-ichi Watanabe} [J. Algebra 282, No. 1, 278--297 (2004; Zbl 1082.13004)]. Relations to the concepts of F-purity and strong F-purity for pairs are explored and it is proved that for a sharply F-pure pair \((R, \mathfrak{a}^t)\) the generalized test ideal \(\tau(\mathfrak{a}^t)\) is radical. Moreover, when \(R\) is the quotient of an F-finite regular ring, the sharp F-purity of \((R, \mathfrak{a}^t)\) implies that \(R/\tau(\mathfrak{a}^t)\) is F-pure. This extends a result of \textit{J. C. Vassilev} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 350, No. 10, 4041--4051 (1998; Zbl 0913.13005)]. In course of establishing this result, the author proves a Fedder-type criterion for the concepts of F-purity introduced. Applications to F-pure thresholds are included in the last section of the paper.