On some discretely normed rings of functions being not \(GE_ 2\)-rings. (Q1079600)

Let \(K\) be a field of algebraic functions in one variable, \(S\) a set of places (valuations) of \(K\), \(R\) the subring of functions without poles outside \(S\). If the field of constants is finite, Bass, Milnor, and Serre proved that \(\text{SL}_ nR=E_ nR\), i.e. \(R\) is a \(GE_ n\)-ring for \(n\geq 3\); when \(\text{card}(S)\geq 2\), the reviewer proved that \(R\) is a \(GE_ 2\)-ring. Suppose now that \(\text{card}(S)=1\). P. Cohn proved that \(R\) is not a \(GE_ 2\)- ring when \(\text{char}(K)\neq 2\) and the degree of the place is \(\geq 2\). Assume now that \(R\) is not a polynomial ring in one variable (which is an Euclidean domain and hence a \(GE\)-ring). \textit{A. A. Suslin} [Zap. Nauchn. Semin. Leningr. Otd. Mat. Inst. Steklova 64, 127--130 (1976; Zbl 0342.12010)] showed that \(R\) is not a \(GE_ 2\)-ring; moreover, \(E_ 2R\) is not normal in \(\text{SL}_ 2R\). In the present note, which was written independently of Suslin's note, it is shown that \(E_ 2R\) is of infinite index in \(\text{SL}_ 2R\).