Evolutions and valuations associated to an ideal (Q4933676)

Let \(k\) be a commutative noetherian ring and \(R\) a local \(k\)-algebra essentially of finite type. An evolution of \(R/k\) is a local \(k\)-algebra \(S\) essentially of finite type together with an epimorphism \(\varepsilon :S\to R\) of \(k\)-algebras such that the canonical morphism \(\Omega^1_{S/k} \to \Omega^1_{R/k}\) of universal differential modules induces an isomorphism \(\Omega^1_{S/k} \otimes_S R\to\Omega^1_{R/k}\). The evolution is called trivial if \(\varepsilon\) is an isomorphism, and \(R/k\) is called evolutionarily stable if every evolution of \(R/k\) is trivial. In connection with work of Wiles, \textit{B. Mazur} asked the following question: Let \(k\) be either a field of characteristic 0 or a discrete valuation ring of mixed characteristic. Is every reduced, flat, local algebra \(R/k\), which is essentially of finite type, evolutionarily stable? In this paper, Mazur's question is related to the following question of nilpotency in the associated graded ring \(\text{Gr}_I(R)\) of a radical ideal \(I\) in a regular local ring \((R,M)\): If \(x\in I/I^2\) is nilpotent in \(\text{Gr}_I(R)\), does this imply that \(x\in M(I/I^2)\)? -- The author gives several classes of examples for which this question has a positive answer, and thus obtains new examples of evolutionarily stable algebras.