Local weak simultaneous resolution for high rational ranks (Q1368047)

In 1956, Abhyankar stated his local weak simultaneous resolution theorem for algebraic surfaces. By using this theorem, he was able to eliminate the use of Zariski's factorization theorem for proving the local uniformization theorem for algebraic surfaces (a step in Zariski's plan for proving resolution of singularities). The author thinks that generalizing the local weak simultaneous resolution theorem could be useful to show local uniformization for higher-dimensional varieties since Zariski's factorization theorem is not true for these varieties. In this sense, he gives a partial generalization which does not account for all possible rational ranks. The concrete result (section 3 of the paper) which is proved from a monomialization theorem for ordered semigroups (section 2) is the following: Let \(K\) be an \(n\)-dimensional function field over an algebraically closed field \(k\). Assume that either the characteristic of \(k\) is zero or that it is positive and \(n\leq 3\). Let \(L/K\) be a finite algebraic extension. Let \(v\) be a valuation of \(L/k\) with \(k\)-dimension zero, rational rank \(r\), and valuation ring \(V\). Let \((S,N)\subset L\) be an \(n\)-dimensional local ring over \(k\) which is birationally dominated by \(V\). Let \(R=S\cap K\), \(M=N\cap K\), \(U=V\cap K\) and \(Q=MS\). (1) If \(r=n\), then \(S\) can be replaced by an iterated monoidal transform along \(v\) so that \(Q\) is \(N\)-primary; (2) If \(r<n\), then \(S\) can be replaced by an iterated monoidal transform along \(v\) so that \(\text{ht} Q\geq r+1\). In particular, if \(r=n-1\), then for such a transform \(Q\) is \(N\)-primary.