The Gersten conjecture for Milnor \(K\)-theory (Q1006317)

Let \(A\) be a regular connected semi-local ring containing a field. Denote by \(F\) the quotient field of \(A\) and assume that each residue field of \(A\) is infinite. The author's main theorem in the paper under review states that the canonical maps \(i_n: K^M_n(A)\to K^M_n(F)\) of the corresponding Milnor \(K\)-groups are universally injective, for all integers \(n\geq 0\) in this particular situation. The proof of this major theorem is based on several original new ingredients, including a Néron-Popescu desingularization method, the construction of a certain co-Cartesian square of Milnor \(K\)-groups motivated by motivic cohomology, and a generalization of the Milnor-Bass-Tate sequence in algebraic \(K\)-theory to semi-local rings. As it turns out, the author's main theorem has various important consequences. A first application leads to the conclusion that the so-called Gersten conjecture is true in an equivariant context. More precisely, the author derives a theorem stating that \textit{K. Kato}'s Gersten complex of Zariski sheaves for Milnor \(K\)-theory of an excellent scheme \(X\) is exact if \(X\) is regular over an infinite field. In the sequel, the exactness of the Gersten complex is used to prove one of the still remaining Beilinson conjectures on motivic cohomology. In fact, it is shown that for Voevodsky's motivic complexes of Zariski sheaves \(\mathbb{Z}(n)\) on the category of smooth schemes over an infinite field, there is an isomorphism \({\mathcal K}^M_n\overset\sim\rightarrow{\mathcal H}^n(\mathbb{Z}(n))\) for all \(n\geq 0\). As a further consequence of the verified Gersten conjecture, the author deduces a Bloch formula relating Milnor \(K\)-theory and Chow groups of (excellent) schemes \(X\) in the form \(H^n(X,{\mathcal K}^M_n)\simeq CH^n(X)\) for all \(n\geq 0\). Finally, it is pointed out how \textit{M. Levine}'s generalized Bloch-Kato conjecture [``Relative Milnor \(K\)-theory'', K-Theory 6, No.~2, 113--175 (1992; Zbl 0780.19005)] can be turned into a true theorem for semi-local rings containing an infinite field of suitable characteristic, as well as how the generalized Milnor conjecture on quadratic forms over local rings can be verified. In an appendix to the present paper, the author provides a generalization of a factorization result used by \textit{O. Gabber} in his earlier proof [Manuscr. Math. 95, No.~1, 107--115 (1998; Zbl 0896.13004)] of the surjectivity of the homomorphism of sheaves \({\mathcal K}^M_n\to{\mathcal H}^n(\mathbb{Z}(n))\) on the big Zariski site of smooth varieties over an infinite field. No doubt, the work under review must be seen as a highly important contribution to algebraic \(K\)-theory and its applications to algebraic geometry, as the author solves a number of long-standing problems simultaneously by a very original and rather unified approach, with his main theorem (Theorem 6.1.) being the decisive clue.