A generalization of Nakai's theorem on locally finite iterative higher derivations (Q2360865)

Let \(A\) be a commutative ring and \(A[x]\) the polynomial ring in one variable over \(A\). A ring homomorphism \(\sigma:A\rightarrow A[x]\) is called an exponential map on \(A\) if whenever \(a\in A\) and \(\sigma(a) = \sum_{i=0}^{m}a_{i}x^{i}\) (\(a_{i}\in A\) for \(i=0,\dots, m\)), one has \(a_{0} = a\) and \(\sum_{i=0}^{m}\sigma(a_{i})y^{i} = \sum_{i=0}^{m}a_{i}(x+y)^{i}\) in \(A[x, y]\). (Note that for every such an exponential map \(\sigma\), one can consider a collection \((\delta_{i})_{i=0}^{\infty}\) of endomorphisms of the additive group of \(A\) defined by \(\sigma(a) = \sum_{i\geq 0}\delta_{i}(a)x^{i}\) for every \(a\in A\). The family \((\delta_{i})_{i=0}^{\infty}\) is called a locally finite iterative higher derivation on \(A\); this concept is naturally equivalent to the concept of an exponential map.) In [Osaka J. Math. 15, 655--662 (1978; Zbl 0393.13007)] \textit{Y. Nakai} proved the following structure theorem: Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field, \(A\) a \(k\)-domain, and \(\sigma\) a nontrivial exponential map on \(A\) over \(k\). If \(A^{\sigma} = \{a\in A|\sigma(a) = a\}\) is a finitely generated PID over \(k\) and every prime element of \(A^{\sigma}\) is a prime element of \(A\), then \(A\) is the polynomial ring in one variable over \(A^{\sigma}\). The main result of the paper under review generalizes the Nakai's theorem by removing the conditions that the ground field \(k\) is algebraically closed, that \(A\) is an integral domain, and that the \(k\)-algebra \(A^{\sigma}\) is finitely generated. As one of the consequences of this generalization of Nakai's theorem, the author obtains the following result that generalizes the cancellation theorem of \textit{A. J. Crachiola} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 213, No. 9, 1735--1738 (2009; Zbl 1168.14041)]: Let \(k\) be a field, \(\overline{k}\) its algebraic closure, and \(A\) and \(A'\) finitely generated \(k\)-domains with \(A[x]\simeq_{k}A'[x]\). If \(A\) and \(\overline{k}\bigotimes_{k}A\) are UFDs and trans.\(\deg_{k}A = 2\), then \(A\simeq_{k}A'\).