Algebraic series and valuation rings over nonclosed fields (Q927338)

Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(p\geq 0\) with algebraic closure \(\overline k\). Furthermore let \(\sigma\) be a formal power series in the variables \(x_1,\dots, x_n\) over \(\overline k\) and let \(L\) be the extension field of \(k\) generated by the coefficients of \(\sigma\). The authors' main theorem states that the following conditions are equivalent: 1. \(\sigma\) is algebraic over the quotient field of \(k[[x_1,\dots, x_n]]\); 2. there is an \(r\in\mathbb{N}\) such that \([k(L^{p^r}): k]<\infty\) (where \(k(L^{pr})\) is the smallest subfield of \(\overline k\) containing \(k\) and \(L^{pr}\)). In case \(k\) is a finitely generated extension of a perfect field or \(L\) is separable over \(k\), condition 2 can be replaced by \([L: k]<\infty\). The last section contains an extension of a theorem due to \textit{M. Spivakovsky} [Am. J. Math 112, No. 1, 107--156 (1990; Zbl 0716.13003)]: Let \(R\) be an excellent 2-dimensional local domain with quotient field \(K\), and suppose that \(V\) is a valuation ring of \(K\) which dominates \(R\). Then the rank of \(V\) increases under completion if and only if \(V/m_V\) is finite over \(R/m_R\) and \(V\) is discrete of rank 1. The proof is given by a method similar to that used in the proof of the theorem above.