The pseudo-convergent sets and the cuts of an ordered field (Q2277023)

The authors investigate pseudo-convergent sets and cuts of an ordered field. Let v be the finest valuation of an ordered field F. Let (A,B) be a cut of F. The set \(E(A,B)=\{c\in F \); \(b-a>| c|\) for any \(a\in A\), \(b\in B\}\) is called the breadth of the cut (A,B). A convex subgroup D of F is called coprincipal if the maximal element of v(F\(\setminus D\) exists. Let \(\{a_ i; i\in I\}\) be a pseudo-convergent set of elements of F [\textit{I. Kaplansky}, Duke Math. J. 9, 303-321 (1942; Zbl 0061.055)]. The authors define the following sets: \(A_ L(\{a_ i\})=\{c\in F\); there exists \(i\in I\) such that \(c<a_ j\) for any \(j>i\}\), \(B_ L(\{a_ i\})=F\setminus A_ L\), \(B_ R(\{a_ i\})=\{c\in F\); there exists \(i\in I\) such that \(a_ j<c\) for any \(j>i\}\), \(A_ R(\{a_ i\})=F\setminus B_ R\). For a cut (A,B) of F we put \(D=E(A,B)\), \(\bar A=\{a+D; a\in A\}\), \(\bar B=\{b+D; b\in D\}\). The cut (A,B) is called strongly proper if \(A\neq \emptyset\), \(B\neq \emptyset\) and neither max \(\bar A\) nor min \(\bar B\) exists. It is shown that some intrinsic relation exists between the cuts and the pseudo-convergent sets of elements of F. Let \(\{a_ i\}\) be a pseudo-convergent set of elements of F which has no limit in F. We put \((A,B)=(A_ R(\{a_ i\})\), \(B_ R(\{a_ i\}))=(A_ L(\{a_ i\})\), \(B_ L(\{a_ i\})\). It is proved that (A,B) is strongly proper. Conversely, for any strongly proper cut (A,B) for which E(A,B) is not coprincipal, there exists a pseudo- convergent set \(\{a_ i\}\) of elements of F such that \(\{a_ i\}\) has no limit in F and \((A,B)=(A_ R(\{a_ i\})\), \(B_ R(\{a_ i\}))=(A_ L(\{a_ i\})\), \(B_ L(\{a_ i\})).\) As an application the following theorem is given: F has no strongly proper cut if and only if \(A_ 0/M_ 0=R\) and (F,v) is maximal as a valued field, where v is the finest valuation, \(A_ 0\) is the valuation ring of v and \(M_ 0\) is the maximal ideal.