Höhere Derivationen bei lokalen Ringerweiterungen. (Higher derivations in local ring extensions) (Q1093689)

Let (P,\({\mathfrak n})\leq (R,{\mathfrak m})\) be local rings and define the ramification index \(\ell\) as length of the R-module R/\({\mathfrak m}R\). For special situations (separable residue class field extension (R/\({\mathfrak m}R)/(P/{\mathfrak n}P)\) and principal maximal ideal \({\mathfrak m}\) of R), R. Berger gave a characterisation of ramification by the stability index - a characteristic number of higher order differential algebras. Our paper presents a generalisation of this characterisation. To this end we first determine the polynomial ring structure of differential algebras of finitely generated (inseparable) field extensions. Applying this result to the investigation of differential algebras of local rings, we obtain two characterisations of ramification: by the stability index and by the polynomial ring structure of the differential algebras.