The new intersection theorem and descent of flatness for integral extensions (Q2654058)

The author applies the new intersection theorem in the context of integral ring extensions, showing that, in certain instances, such maps must be flat. He then applies this result in various cases, namely when the extension is module finite and (1) unramified in codimension one, or (2) is generically Galois and separable in codimension less than two. The main theorem states that if \(R \hookrightarrow A\) is an integral extension of Noetherian rings and \(M\) is a finitely-generated \(R\)-module such that \(R\), \(A\), and \(M\) all satisfy the Serre condition \(S_2\), \(M\) has finite projective dimension locally over Spec \(R\), and Hom\(_R(M, A)\) is projective over \(A\), then \(M\) is projective over \(R\). In the above mentioned two cases, assuming that \(A\) and \(R\) are normal domains and \(A\) has finite projective dimension over \(R\), one can conclude, respectively, that the extension is (1) étale, or (2) Galois, and \(A\) is \(R\)-projective. Of particular relevance in this section are the results and/or methods in \textit{M.~Kantorowitz} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 127, No. 1, 71--78 (1999; Zbl 0909.13003)] and \textit{M.~Auslander} and \textit{D.~Buchsbaum} [Am. J. Math. 81, 749--765 (1959; Zbl 0093.04104)]. In the second section, the author considers what conclusions can be made concerning a module finite extension of normal domains \(B \hookrightarrow A\), where \(B\) is a complete intersection, if one replaces the assumption that \(A\) has finite projective dimension over \(B\) with the assumption that End\(_BA\) is \(A\)-free. If the extension has the normal basis property in codimension less than four, \(B\) is complete, and \(A\) satisfies the Serre condition \(S_3\), then the author shows that \(A\) is free over \(B\). The proof uses liftings to modules over group algebras. Of particular relevance in this section is the paper by \textit{M.~Auslander, S.~Ding} and \textit{O.~Solberg} [J. Algebra 156, No. 2, 273-317 (1993; Zbl 0778.13007)].