The module of differentials and<i>p</i>-bases of a ring extension (Q4519219)

Let \(R\) be an integral domain of characteristic \(p>0\), let \(R^\prime \subset R\) be a subring such that the extension of quotient fields has degree \(p\), and suppose that \(R\) locally has a \(p\)-base over \(R^\prime\) (for each prime ideal \(P \in \text{Spec}(R)\) there is an element \(x_P\) in \(R_P\) whose powers \(x_P^i\), \(0 \leq i \leq p-1\), are a free module basis for \(R_P\) over \(R^\prime_{P\cap R^\prime}\)). Further assume that \(R\) is finitely presented as an \(R^\prime\)-module. Let \(\Omega\) denote the module of differentials of \(R\) over \(R^\prime\) and let \(\Lambda\) denote the \(p\)-th exterior power of \(R\) over \(R^\prime\). Note that \(\Lambda\) is a locally free \(R^\prime\)-module of rank one. The authors prove that the \(p(p-1)/2\)-th tensor power of \(\Omega\) over \(R\) is isomorphic to \(\Lambda \otimes_{R'}R\). They then seek conditions on the latter which are equivalent to \(\Omega\), itself being a free \(R\)-module, and are successful. One of the easier to state theorems asumes that \(R\) is a UFD and \(p>2\): Then \(\Omega\) is free if \(\Lambda \otimes_{R^\prime} R\) is free.