Valuation domains with a maximal immediate extension of finite rank (Q2268595)

Let \(R\) be a valuation domain with maximal ideal \(P\), \(\widehat{R}\) a maximal immediate extension of \(R\), and \(\widetilde{R}\) the completion of \(R\) in the \(R\)-topology. The total defect at a prime ideal \(L\) of \(R\), denoted by \(d_R(L)\), is the rank of the torsion-free \(R/L\)-module \(\widehat{(R/L)}\), and the completion defect at \(L\), denoted by \(c_R(L)\), is the rank of the torsion-free \(R/L\)-module \(\widetilde{(R/L)}\). \textit{P. Vámos} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 41, No. 1, 10--26 (1990; Zbl 0736.13013)] gave a complete characterization of non-Henselian valuation domains with a finite total defect. In this paper under review, the author extends Vámos's results to arbitrary valuation domains \(R\) for which \(d_R(0)< \infty\). Among other things, the author shows that if \(d_R(0) < \infty\), then there exists a finite family of prime ideals \(P= L_0 \supset L_1 \supset \cdots \supset L_{m-1} \supset L_m \supseteq 0\) such that \(R_{L_k}/L_{k+1}\) is almost maximal for \(k = 0, \dots , m-1\); \(R_{L_m}\) is maximal if \(L_m \neq 0\); \(d_R(0) = \prod_{k=1}^mc_R(L_k)\); and \(\widehat{R}\) has a pure-composition series \[ 0 = F_0 \subset R= F_1 \subset \dots \subset F_{m-1} \subset F_m = \widehat{R}, \] where \(F_{j+1}/F_j\) is a free \(R_{L_j}\)-module of finite rank for all \(j = 0, \dots , m-1\).