No label defined (Q4374785)

A set \({\mathcal V}\) of pairwise inequivalent absolute values of a field \(K\) satisfies the product formula, if for all \(x\in K^\times\) we have \(\prod_{v\in {\mathcal V}} | x|_v =1\) and \(| x|_v=1\) for almost all \(v\in {\mathcal V}\). If \(K\) is a function field of one variable over the constant field \(k\), the usual valuations of \(K\) (trivial on \(k)\) satisfy the product formula. If extends uniquely to every finite extension of \(K\). In the first part of their paper the authors describe those infinite extensions of \(K\) that still satisfy the product formula. If \(k\) is countable, they construct such an extension, using ramification properties. Conversely, if \(k\) is uncountable, of characteristic 0 and algebraically closed, the product formula cannot extend to any infinite algebraic extension of \(K\). It should be noted that Lemma 4 as stated in the text is not correct, because one cannot conclude that the extensions \(\overline {K_i}/ \overline {K_n}\) and \(K_i/K_n\) have the same degree, but any correct modification suffices for the purposes of the paper. The second part treats function fields \(K\) of surfaces over an algebraically closed field \(k\). For \(\text{char} (k)=0\) the valuations of \(K\) have been classified by O. Zariski. The authors prove that some of these valuations cannot be part of a product formula. They also show that a finite extension of \(K\) might carry different product formulas extending the same product formula on \(K\).