When is length a length function? (Q2575727)

This paper considers two notions of length. One is defined in terms of factorization: given a nonzero element \(x\) in a (commutative) half-factorial domain \(R\), \(\ell(x)\) is the number of factors in an atomic factorization of \(x\). The other is the length \(\lambda(I)\) of an ideal \(I\), which is the length of the enlarged total quotient ring \(\text{MTot}(R/I)\) as module over itself. The authors show that \(\lambda(Rx)\) defines a length function in the first sense provided \(R\) is almost-noetherian, and moreover this length function is a linear combination of discrete valuations under further conditions. These results lead to a characterization of weakly Krull almost-noetherian domains and to an analysis of their integral closures and length functions. Further results concern elasticity when there is not a unique length for atomic factorizations. The authors give numerous examples to illustrate the theory.