Cohen factorizations: weak functoriality and applications (Q473005)

Let \(\phi: (R,\mathfrak{m}) \to (S,\mathfrak{n})\) be a local ring homomorphism. A regular factorization of \(\phi\) is a sequence of ring homomorphisms \(R @>{\psi}>> R' @>{\tau}>> S\) such that \(\phi = \tau \psi, \,\psi\) is flat, the closed fibre of \(\psi\) is regular and \(\tau\) is surjective. A Cohen factorization of \(\phi\) is a regular factorization such that \(R'\) is complete. This notation was introduced by \textit{L. L. Avramov} et al. [J. Algebra 164, No. 1, 124--145 (1994; Zbl 0798.13002)], where also the existence for \(\phi\) was shown. Their construction has several applications in various research papers. The new point in the present paper is the authors' proof of a certain functoriality of Cohen factorizations, namely that a certain morphism of local ring homomorphisms induce morphisms of Cohen factorizations. Then this is used in order to study properties of local ring homomorphisms (Cohen-Macaulay, Gorenstein, etc.) in commutative diagrams of local ring homomorphisms. Finally they use Cohen factorizations for the investigations of the structure of quasi-deformations with applications on the behaviour of CI-dimensions in short exact sequences.