On the vanishing of local cohomology of the absolute integral closure in positive characteristic (Q286547)

Let \(R\) be a local Noetherian domain of positive characteristic that is a homomorphic image of a Cohen-Macaulay ring. The author proves that all lower local cohomology modules of \(R\) supported at the maximal ideal map to zero under a finite extension of \(R\). As a consequence the absolute integral closure of \(R\) is a big Cohen-Macaulay algebra. This was first proved by \textit{M. Hochster} and \textit{C. Huneke} [Ann. Math. (2) 135, No. 1, 53--89 (1992; Zbl 0753.13003)] when \(R\) is excellent, and \textit{C. Huneke} and \textit{G. Lyubeznik} [Adv. Math. 210, No. 2, 498--504 (2007; Zbl 1109.13003)] found a simpler proof when \(R\) is a homomorphic image of a Gorenstein ring. Since every excellent local ring is a homomorphic image of a Cohen-Macaulay ring, the author's result simultaneously generalizes the aforementioned results of Hochster-Huneke and Huneke-Lyubeznik.