On the ranks and implicit constant fields of valuations induced by pseudo monotone sequences (Q2153810)

Let \((K,v)\) be a valued field. One of the main problems in valuation theory is the classification of all possible extensions of \(v\) to a field extension \(F\) of \(K\); a central case is when \(F=K(X)\) is the field of rational functions over \(K\). Several approaches have been used to study this case, using a variety of different objects: among them there are minimal pairs of definitions, key polynomials and pseudo-convergent (and later pseudo-monotone) sequences. The subject of the paper are pseudo-monotone sequences and the extensions they define. Let \(E\) be a pseudo-monotone sequence and let \(v_E\) be the extension determined by \(E\). The first result of the paper is that the implicit constant field of \(v_E\) is the henselianization \(K^h\). Next, the author studies conditions on an extension \(w\) of \(v\) under which \(w\) is in the form \(v_E\), obtaining the equivalence of some conditions (some using pairs of definitions) when \(E\) is value-transcendental. Finally, when \(v\) has finite rank \(n\), the paper shows an algorithm to check if the rank of \(v_E\) is \(n\) or \(n+1\): the algorithm works by writing the value group of \(v\) as a direct sum of subgroups of \(\mathbb{R}\) and considering the suprema of the components of the gauge of \(E\).