Root extension in polynomial and power series rings (Q2236790)

Let \(R \subseteq S\) be an extension of commutative rings with identity \(1_R\), \(X\) be an indeterminate, and \(R[X] \subseteq S[X]\) be the polynomial rings. The extension \(R \subseteq S\) is called a root extension if for each \(s \in S\), there is an integer \(n = n(s) \geq 1\) such that \(s^n \in R\). An integral domain \(D\) is an almost GCD domain (AGCD domain) if for each \(0 \neq a, b \in D\), there is an integer \(n = n(a,b) \geq 1\) such that \(a^nD \cap b^nD\) is principal. Let \(D'\) be the integral closure of \(D\). In [\textit{D. D. Anderson} et al., Commun. Algebra 32, No. 1, 147--158 (2004; Zbl 1063.13002)], the authors showed that the polynomial ring \(D[X]\) is an AGCD domain if and only if \(D\) is an AGCD domain and \(D[X] \subseteq D'[X]\) is a root extension. They also raised the following two questions: (1) Does \(D[X]\) an AGCD domain imply that \(D[X_1, \dots , X_n]\) is an AGCD domain for finitely many indeterminates \(X_1, \dots , X_n\) ? (2) If an extension \(D \subseteq E\) of integral domains is a root extension such that \(D[X] \subseteq E[X]\) is a root extension, is \(D[X,Y] \subseteq E[X,Y]\) also a root extension ? In this paper under review, the author gives an affirmative answer to these questions. Precisely, she shows that the following three statements are equivalent: (1) \(R[X] \subseteq S[X]\) is a root extension, (2) the additive group \(S/R\) is torsion, \(R \subseteq S\) is a root extension, and \(R/pS \cap R \subseteq S/pS\) is a purely inseparable extension for each prime integer \(p\) such that \(p\cdot 1_R\) is a nonunit in \(R\), and (3) \(R[\{X_{\lambda}\}] \subseteq S[\{X_{\lambda}\}]\) is a root extension for any nonempty set \(\{X_{\lambda}\}\) of indeterminates. As a corollary, it is shown that if \(D[X]\) is an AGCD domain, then \(D[X_1, \dots , X_n]\) is an AGCD domain for finitely many indeterminates \(X_1, \dots , X_n\). she also studies when the extension \(R[[X]] \subseteq S[[X]]\) of power series rings is a root extension. Finally, she gives some examples of a ring extension \(R \subseteq S\) such that \(R[X] \subseteq S[X]\) (and \(R[[X]] \subseteq S[[X]]\)) is a root extension.