Retracts of fields (Q1825902)

Let \(L\supset K\supset F\) be fields finitely generated over F. K is called a retract of L if and only if there is an affine regular K-algebra T, with quotient field L and a map r: \(T\to K\) such that \(r(x)=x\) for all \(x\in K\). The most interesting situation is when L is a pure transcendental extension of K. If T can be chosen to be a localization of a polynomial ring over F, then K is retract rational. It is an open problem whether a retract of a rational extension must be retract rational (Saltman). This paper develops valuation theoretical criteria for an extension to be a retract and provides a reduction to the one dimensional case in characteristic 0 for the above open problem.