Prüfer intersection of valuation domains of a field of rational functions (Q1643188)

Let \((K,v)\) be a rank one valued field, and \(V\) be a its valuation domain. For a subset \(S\) of \(K\), denote by \(\mathrm{Int}(S,V)\) the ring \(\{f\in K[X]\mid f(S)\subset V\}\) of integer-valued polynomials over \(S\). The purpose of this paper is to give a characterization of the sets \(S\subseteq V\) such that \(\mathrm{Int}(S,V)\) is a Prüfer domain, i.e. a domain such that the localization at every maximal ideal is a valuation domain. One can define a topology on \(K\) such that the closure \(\overline{S}\) of any subset \(S\) of \(K\) is the largest subset of \(K\) such that \(\mathrm{Int}(\overline{S},V)= \mathrm{Int}(S,V)\). In order to state the main theorem of this paper we also need some definitions about pseudo-Cauchy sequences (i.e. sequences \((s_n)\) of elements of \(K\) such that, for every \(n\geq 1\), \(v(s_n-s_{n+1})<v(s_{n+1}-s_{n+2})\)). A pseudo-limit of \((s_n)\) is an element \(s\) (if it exists) such that, for every \(n\), \(v(s-s_n)=v(s_{n+1}-s_n)\). If the sequence \((v(s_n-s_{n+1}))\) is unbounded, then there is at most one pseudo-limit. For example, in a field of generalized formal power series, where the valuation of an element is the smallest element of its support, \(r_n=1+X+\cdots+ X^n\), and \(s_n=1+X^{\frac{1}{2}}+\cdots+X^{1-\frac{1}{n}}\) are pseudo-Cauchy sequences. We have \(\lim v(r_n-r_{n+1})=\infty\) and \(\lim v(s_n-s_{n+1})=1\). In this paper, a pseudo-convergent sequence is a pseudo-Cauchy sequence \((s_n)\) such that the sequence \((v(s_n-s_{n+1}))\) is bounded (but it has not necessarily a pseudo-limit). The sequence \((s_n)\) is pseudo-stationary if, for all integers \(m\neq n\), \(m'\neq n'\), we have \(v(s_m-s_n)= v(s_{m'}-s_{n'})\). For example, we can let \(s_n=n+X\), and we have \(v(s_m-s_n)=0\). The sequence \((s_n)\) is pseudo-divergent if, for every \(n\geq 1\), \(v(s_n-s_{n+1})>v(s_{n+1}-s_{n+2})\). For example, set \(s_n=1+X+X^{\frac{1}{2}}+\cdots+X^{\frac{1}{n}}\); then \(v(s_n-s_{n+1})=\frac{1}{n+1}\). A pseudo-monotone sequence is a sequence which is either pseudo-convergent, or pseudo-stationary, or pseudo-divergent. The definition of a pseudo-limit can be generalized to any pseudo-monotone sequence. If \((s_n)\) is pseudo-stationary, then, for every \(k\), \(s_k\) is a pseudo-limit of the subsequence \((s_n)_{n\neq k}\). If \((s_n)\) is pseudo-divergent, then, for every \(k\), \(s_k\) is a pseudo-limit of the subsequence \((s_n)_{n> k}\). The main theorem of this paper states that if \(S\subseteq V\), then \(\mathrm{Int}(S,V)\) is a Prüfer domain if, and only if, \(S\) does not contain a pseudo-monotone sequence which has a pseudo-limit in \(\overline{K}\). Now, if \(V\) is a discrete valuation ring, then this condition is also equivalent to: there is no pseudo-stationary sequence contained in \(S\), or to: \(S\) is precompact.