On the vanishing of the second André-Quillen homology of a local homomorphism (Q1209593)

Let \(\Phi:(A,{\mathfrak m},k)\to(B,{\mathfrak n},L)\) be a local homomorphism of local noetherian rings, and let \(H_ n(A,B,L)\) be the André-Quillen homology. It is well known that \(H_ 1(A,B,L)=0\) implies that \(B\) is \(A\)-flat. The authors consider the following question: If \(H_ 2(A,B,L)=0\) is then the flat dimension, \(fd_ AB\), finite? If rank \(H_ 1(k,L,L)<\infty\) the answer is shown to be yes. This hypothesis is fulfilled if either \(L/k\) is separable, or if \(B\) is of essentially finite type over \(A\). One first reduces to the case when \(A\) and \(B\) are complete. Then it is shown that in case \(A\) and \(B\) are complete and \(\text{rank} H_ 1(k,L,L)<\infty\), then \(\Phi\) has a factorisation \(A@>\sigma>>R@>\pi>>B\), where \(R\) is a local ring, \(\sigma\) and \(\pi\) local homomorphisms, \(\pi\) surjective, and \(\sigma\) formally smooth.