Amalgamations of domains (Q1818829)

Let \(R\), \(S\) be rings with a common subring \(T\). The author considers the coproduct \(P=R*_TS\), defined essentially as the pushout of \(T\to R\), \(T\to S\). To ensure that \(R\), \(S\) are embedded in \(P\) and meet in \(T\), the author assumes \(R\), \(S\) to be free as left and right \(T\)-modules and introduces bases. Following \textit{P. M. Cohn} [Math. Z. 73, 433-456 (1960; Zbl 0095.25701)], he quotes conditions for the height (here `length') of a product to be the product of the heights. Assume now that \(S\) is an integral domain with a basis \(B_s\) as right \(T\)-module and a basis \(B_s'\) as left \(T\)-module. Then \(B_s\) and \(B_s'\) are called vnn bases if, for any finite non-empty subsets \(\{u_i\}\) of \(B_s\) and \(\{v_j\}\) of \(B_s'\) and non-zero elements \(t_{ij}\) of \(T\), we have \(\sum u_it_{ij}v_j\neq 0\); in this case \(S\) is also called a vnn extension of \(T\). Now, the author proves the following analogue to his earlier result [J. Algebra 178, No. 3, 962-990 (1995; Zbl 0847.20021)]: If \(R\), \(S\) are integral domains that are free both as right and as left \(T\)-module, and moreover \(S\) is a vnn extension of \(T\), then \(R*_TS\) is an integral domain. Here, the vnn condition is not necessary but neither can it be omitted.