On a conjecture of Vorst (Q663230)

Vorst's conjecture states that if the \(K_{d+1}\)-theory of a ring (commutative of dimension \(d\) and essentially of finite type over a field) is isomorphic to the \(K_{d+1}\)-theory of its polynomial ring (on any number of commuting variables), then it is a regular ring. Briefly, if \(R\) is \(K_{d + 1}\)-regular then it is regular. In the paper under review, the conjecture is proved for a ring that is the localization of a \(d\)-dimensional commutative \(k\)-algebra of finite type, where \(k\) is an infinite field of positive characteristic such that strong resolution of singularities hold over \(k\). The condition on \(k\) means that any integral scheme of finite type and separated over \(k\) admits a sequence of blow-ups so that the center of each blow-up is connected, smooth over \(k\) and its embedding into the blow-up is normally flat and nowhere dense. This condition allows the use of inductive arguments and it is used to show that if \(X\) is the colimit of \(d\)-dimensional schemes separated and of finite type over \(k\), then its \(K\)-homotopy invariant \(K\)-theory, with coefficients in \(\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}\), vanishes in dimensions larger than \(d\). The last result is used to show that the \(K_{d+1}\)- group of \(R\) is equal to its \(pK_{d+1}\)- group if \(R\) is local. For the proof of the main result, it is noticed that it is enough to assume that the ring is local of the same dimension. If the maximal ideal of \(R\) is generated by \(r\) elements, then the ring is regular if and only if \(r = d\). The proof is completed by contradiction, using explicit calculations on the Dennis trace on Hochschild homology. The contradiction, if \(r > d\), is derived by constructing symbols that have notrivial image in the Hochschild homology even though they belong to the group \(K_{d+1}(R)/pK_{d+1}(R)\). A similar result on Vorst's conjecture for fields of characteristic \(0\) was given by \textit{G. Cortinãs, C. Haesemeyer} and \textit{C. Weibel} [``\(K\)-regularity, \(cdh\)-fibrant Hochschild homology, and a conjecture of Vorst'', J. Am. Math. Soc. 21, No. 2, 547--561 (2008; Zbl 1173.19002)].