A Kunz-type characterization of regular rings via alterations (Q2332123)

Let \((R,\mathfrak{m})\) be a local domain essentially of finite type over a field. A regular alteration \(\pi:X\rightarrow \text{Spec} R\) is a proper and generically finite map with \(X\) a regular scheme. In this paper, the authors prove a characterization of regularity of the local ring \(R\) through alterations. They establish that for arbitrary characteristic, \(R\) is regular if and only if for every regular alteration \(\pi:X\rightarrow \text{Spec} R\), the derived image of the structure sheaf has finite projective dimension, i.e., \(\text{pd}_R\mathbf{R}\pi_*\mathscr{O}_X\leq \infty\). If \(R\) has characteristic zero, then \(R\) is regular if and only if for every regular alteration \(\pi:X\rightarrow \text{Spec} R\), \(\text{pd}_R\mathbf{R}\pi_*\mathscr{O}_X=0\). The proof of the main result is divided into positive characteristic and characteristic zero cases. The main contribution of the paper is the proof of characteristic zero case, for which the authors use multiplier ideals and multiplier submodules.