The Grothendieck group of torsion-free modules of finite rank over a valuation ring (Q2542541)

In this paper, we prove that the Grothendieck group mentioned in the title is a certain ring of integer-valued functions, which depend only on the ideal structure of the given valuation ring. In this process we also show that the Jordan-Hölder theorem holds for the modules considered. The technique involved makes use of Kaplansky's work on maximal valuation rings and modules over them. A torsion-free module of finite rank over a maximal valuation ring is completely decomposable. The well-known Krull-Schmidt-Azumaya theorem then applies to conclude that these summands are unique up to isomorphism. Hence in this case the structure of Grothendieck group is clear. If the ring is not maximal, one can choose one of its maximal completions (though not unique) and use the functor \(\otimes\), which happens to be faithful on simple objects of the category of torsion-free modules of finite rank, to pass on to the corresponding category over the maximal completion. In this process an isomorphism result between the Grothendieck groups of the categories is considered.