Key polynomials (Q2376555)

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between two notions of key polynomials already developed. Let \(K\) be a field, \(\nu\) a valuation on \(K\), \(X\) be an independent variable and \(\mu\) a valuation on \(K[X]\) extending \(\nu\). The first notion of key polynomials studied here was defined by MacLane, and Vaquié also used them. A polynomial \(\phi\) is a key polynomial if and only if it is monic, and for every \(f\), \(g\) in \(K[X]\) such that \(\deg X(f)< \deg X(\phi)\), \(\deg X(g)< \deg X(\phi)\) and for every \(h\in K[X]\) we have: \(\mu(fg+ h\phi)= \min(\mu(fg), \mu(h\phi))\). If \(\phi\) is a key polynomial, then for every \(f\in K[X]\) written in the form \(f= f_m\phi^m+ f_{m-1}\phi^{m-1}+\cdots+ f_0\), with \(\deg X(f_j)< \deg X(0)\) \((0\leq j\leq m)\), we have \(\mu(f)= \min_{0\leq j\leq m}\{\mu(f_j)+ j\mu(\phi)\}\). Furthermore, for every \(\gamma\) in \(\mu(K[X])\) satisfying \(\gamma>\mu(\phi)\), one defines a valuation \(\mu'\) on \(K[X]\) by setting \(\mu'(f)= \min_{0\leq j\leq m}\{\mu(f_j)+ j\gamma\}\). The valuation \(\mu'\) is called an augmented valuation, and is denoted by \(\mu'= \{\mu;\,\mu'(\phi)= \gamma\}\). We have \(\mu'(f)\geq \mu(f)\), and if \(\deg_X(f)< \deg_X(\phi)\) then \(\mu'(f)= \mu(f)\). A family of augmented iterated valuations is a family \(\{\mu_i\}_{i\in\Lambda}\) of valuations of \(K[X]\), indexed by a totally ordered set \(\Lambda\), such that for every \(i\in\Lambda\), \(\mu_{i+1}= [\mu_i;\,\mu_{i+1}(\phi_{i+1}= \gamma_{i+1}]\), and if \(i\) is not the first element of \(\Lambda\) then \(\mu(\phi_i- \phi_{i+1})= \min(\mu(\phi_i), \mu(\phi_{i+1}))\) and \(\deg_X(\phi_i)\leq \deg_X(\phi_{i+1})\). If \(i\) does not have a predecessor in \(\Lambda\), then there exists \(i_0< i\) such that \(\mu_i= [\mu_{i_0};\,\mu_i(\phi_i)= \gamma_i]\) and for every \(j\) in \(\Lambda\) such that \(i_0< j< i: \mu_j= [\mu_{i_0};\, \mu_j(\phi_j)= \gamma_j]\), \(\mu_i= [\mu_j;\, \mu_j(\phi_i)= \gamma_i]\), and the polynomials \(\phi_i\) and \(\phi_j\) have the same degree. Vaquié defines admissible and admitted families of valuations and he proves that there exists an admissible family \(\{\mu_i\}_{i\in\Lambda}\) of valuations such that for every \(f\in K[X]\): \(\mu(f)=\max\{\mu_j(f),\;j\in\Lambda\}\) (\(\mu_1\) is defined by \(\mu_1(a_m X^m+\cdots+ a_0)= \min_{0\leq j\leq m}\{\nu(a_j)+ j\mu(X)\}\)). The second notion of key polynomials was defined by \textit{F. J. Herrera Govantes}, \textit{M. A. Olalla Acosta} and \textit{M. Spivakovsky} [J. Algebra 312, No. 2, 1033--1074 (2007; Zbl 1170.12002)] (in short HOS). They say that a collection \((Q_i)_{i\in\Lambda}\) of elements of \(K[X]\), where \(\Lambda\) is well-ordered, is a complete set of key polynomials if for every \(\beta\in\mu(K[X])\) the additive group \(\{f\in K[X],\,\mu(f)\geq \beta\}\) is generated by products of the form \(a\cdot\prod^s_{j=1} Q^{\gamma_j}_{i_j}\), with \(a\in K\), such that \(\sum^s_{j=1} \gamma_j \mu(Q_i)+ \nu(a)\geq\beta\). Such a complete family exists, the polynomials \(Q_i\) are constructed recursively. For \(h=\sum^s_{j=0} d_jQ^j_i\), where the \(d_j\)'s belong to the \(K\)-algebra generated by the \(Q_k\)'s, \(k< i\), set \(\nu_i(h)= \min_{0\leq j\leq s}\{j\mu(Q_i)+ \mu(d_j)\}\); \(\nu_i\) is called the \(i\)-truncation of \(\mu\). If \(\deg X(y)< \sum^l_{i=1} \deg_X(Q_i)\), then \(\mu(y)= \nu_i(y)\). Assume that \(\nu\) is a rank 1 valuation and that \((Q_i)_{i\in\Lambda}\) is a complete system of HOS polynomials, then the author proves that for each \(i\) there exists \(i_0< i\) such that \(Q_i\) is a key polynomial in the sense of Vaquié for the truncation \(\nu_{i_0}\) and \(\nu_i\) is an augmented valuation defined by \(\nu_{i_0}\) and \(Q_i\) (if \(i-1\) exists, then \(i_0= i-1\)). Furthermore, the family of valuations \((\nu_i)_{i\in\Lambda}\) can be extended to an admitted family for the valuation \(\mu\). Conversely, starting from an admitted family of valuations for \(\mu\), associated to a family \(\{Q_i\}_{i\in\Lambda}\) of key polynomials, the author proves, for example, that there exist a well-ordered subset of \(\Lambda\) and modifications of the \(Q_i\)'s such that the result is a complete family of HOS key polynomials. In the last section the author gives an example of a limit key polynomial \(\phi\) (i.e. there exists \(i_0\) such that \(\phi\) is a key polynomial for every \(i> i_0\)) such that both valuations \(\nu\) and \(\mu\) are centered in local Noetherian rings, one of which dominates the other.