Strong $n$-generators and the rank of some Noetherian one-dimensional integral domains (Q4486872)

Let \(R\) be a commutative one-dimensional Noetherian domain and \(I\) an ideal of \(R\). Let \(\mu(I)\) denote the least number of generators for \(I\). Let \(\mu_*(R)=\max \{\mu(I):I\) is an ideal of \(R\}\). An element \(r\) is called a strong \(n\)-generator of \(R\), if \(\mu_*(R/(r))<n\), and if moreover \(r\in I\) for some ideal \(I\) with \(\mu(I)=n\), then we call \(r\) a proper strong \(n\)-generator. Let \(\overline R\) be the integral closure of \(R\), and suppose \(R\neq\overline R\). Let \(C\) denote the conductor of \(\overline R\) in \(R\), i.e. \(C=[R: \overline R]\), and suppose \(C\neq(0)\). We prove that \(\mu_*(R)= \mu(C)=\mu (C_M)= \mu_*(R_M)\) for some maximal ideal \(M\) containing \(C\) (theorem 15). Let \(P\) be the set of proper strong \(n\)-generators of \(R\), and let \(\text{Ass} (C)\) be the set of maximal ideals containing \(C\). Then we prove: If \(\mu_*(R)=2\), then \(P=\bigcup_{\text{Ass}(C)}(M\setminus M^2)\cup\bigcup_{i\in S}M_i\) where \(\{M_i \}_{i\in S}\) is the set of non-principal maximal ideals not in \(\text{Ass} (C)\) (theorem 11). If \(\mu_*(R)>2\), then \(P=\bigcup^k_{i=1} (I_i\setminus I_iM_i)\) where \(M_i\in \text{Ass} (C)\), \(\mu_*(R_{M_i})= \mu_*(R)\), and \(I_i\) is the biggest \(M_i\)-primary ideal such that \(\mu(I_i)= \mu_*(R)\), \(i=1, \dots,k\) (theorem 18).