Essential finite generation of valuation rings in characteristic zero algebraic function fields (Q2133387)

Let \(K\) be an algebraic function field with a valuation \(\nu.\) Let \(L/K\) be a finite extension and \(\omega\) be an extension of \(\nu.\) This paper investigates conditions under which the valuation ring \(V_\omega\) of \(\omega\) is essentially finitely generated over the valuation ring \(V_\nu.\) This is done using the initial and ramification indices of the valuations. Let \(\Gamma_\nu\) be the value group of \(\nu\) and \(m_\nu\) be the unique maximal ideal of \(V_\nu.\) Let \(\Gamma_\nu\) and \(\Gamma_\omega\) be ordered abelian groups. For an ordered abelian group \(G,\) we set \(G_{>0}=\{g\in G\mid g> 0\}.\) The initial index \(\epsilon(\omega|\nu)\) is defined as \(\epsilon(\omega\mid \nu)=|\{g\in \Gamma_\omega\mid 0\leq g< [\Gamma_\nu]_{> 0}\}|.\) The ramification index \(e(\omega|\nu)\) is the index \([\Gamma_\omega: \Gamma_{\nu}].\) The main result of this paper proves that \(V_\omega\) is essentially finitely generated over \(V_\nu\) if and only if \(\epsilon(\omega\mid \nu)=e(\omega\mid \nu).\) This gives a positive answer to a question posed by Hagen Knaf for characteristic zero function fields.