\(F\)-signature exists (Q695300)

Suppose \(R\) is a local \(d\)-dimensional ring of characteristic \(p > 0\) with perfect residue field \(k\). For each integer \(e > 0\), let \(S_e\) denote \(R\) viewed as an \(R\)-module via the \(e\)-iterated Frobenius and then write\(S_e = R^{\oplus a_e} \oplus M\) where \(M\) has no \(R\)-summands. The \(F\)-signature of \(R\) is defined to be \[ \lim_{e \to \infty} { a_e \over p^{ed}}, \] if it exists. This limit appeared implicitly in the work of \textit{K. E. Smith} and \textit{M. Van den Bergh} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 75, No. 1, 32--62 (1997; Zbl 0948.16019)] and was formally defined by \textit{C. Huneke} and \textit{G. J. Leuschke} in [Math. Ann. 324, No. 2, 391--404 (2002; Zbl 1007.13005)]. For more than a decade, it was a major open problem in the theory of \(F\)-singularities and tight closure whether or not this limit always exists. This paper completely settles this question. A number of special cases of existence of \(F\)-signature were tackled before this paper, frequently under (\(\mathbb{Q}\)-)Gorenstein-types hypotheses, see the aforementioned [Zbl 1007.13005], as well as the work of \textit{K.-i. Watanabe} and \textit{K.-i. Yoshida} [Ill. J. Math. 48, No. 1, 273--294 (2004; Zbl 1089.13007)], \textit{A. K. Singh} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 196, No. 2--3, 313--321 (2005; Zbl 1080.13001)], \textit{I. M. Aberbach} and \textit{F. Enescu} [Ann. Fac. Sci. Toulouse, Math. (6) 15, No. 2, 195--201 (2006; Zbl 1118.13003)], \textit{Y. Yao} [J. Algebra 299, No. 1, 198--218 (2006; Zbl 1102.13027)], \textit{I. M. Aberbach} [J. Algebra 319, No. 7, 2994--3005 (2008; Zbl 1152.13004)] among others. A key point of Tucker's proof uses precise uniform estimates which come out of carefully considering \textit{P. Monsky}'s proof of the existence of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity [Math. Ann. 263, 43--49 (1983; Zbl 0509.13023)]. See section 3 of the paper. Tucker also proves that another more general limit, the \(F\)-splitting ratio introduced by \textit{I. M. Aberbach} and \textit{F. Enescu} [Math. Z. 250, No. 4, 791--806 (2005; Zbl 1102.13001)], also exists. Additional formula, generalizing the original work of Huneke-Leuschke, on the behavior of \(F\)-signature under finite maps (including group quotients) are also obtained.