Some results on codimension-one \(\mathbb A^{1}\)-fibrations (Q2370287)

Let \(A\) be an \(R\)-algebra. One has sought theorems deciding when \(A\) is a polynomial ring in one variable over \(R\) or more generally, when is it an \(\mathbb{A}^1\)-bundle over \(R\). One of the earliest results which motivates the approach in the paper under review probably originated in the article of \textit{T. Kambayashi} and \textit{M. Miyanishi} [Ill. J. Math. 22, 662--671 (1978; Zbl 0406.14012)]. There are generalizations due to one of the authors and \textit{S. M. Bhatwadekar} [Compos. Math. 95, No.~3, 263--285 (1995; Zbl 0840.13011)] and by one of the authors [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 35, No.~3, 377--385 (1995; Zbl 0861.14015)]. The paper under review extends these results and proves the following among others. Let \(R\) be a noetherian normal domain with fraction field \(K\) and a faithfully flat \(R\)-algebra \(A\) such that \(A\) is an \(R\)-subalgebra of a finitley generated \(R\)-algebra \(B\). Assume that \(K\otimes_R A\) is a polynomial ring in one variable over \(K\). Also assume that for every prime ideal \(P\subset R\) of height one, \(k(P)\otimes A\) is an integral domain which has positive transcendence degree over \(k(P)\) and \(k(P)\) is algebraically closed in \(k(P)\otimes A\). Then \(A\cong R[IX]\) for an invertible ideal \(I\subset R\).