Minimal pairs of definition of a residual transcendental extension of a valuation (Q804640)

Let \((K,V)\) be a field with a valuation with \(k_ v\) as its residue field. An extension w of the valuation v to the rational function field \(K(X)\) is called a residual transcendental extension of v if \(k_ w\) is transcendental over \(k_ v\). By a common extension of w and \(\bar v\) to \(K(X)\), where \(\bar v\) is an extension of v to the algebraic closure \(\bar K\) of K, is meant a valuation \(\bar w\) on \(\bar K(X)\) which induces \(\bar v\) on \(\bar K\) and w on \(K(X)\). Such a common extension always exists. The authors have shown earlier that if w is a residual transcendental extension of \(\bar v\) to \(\bar K(X)\) then there exists apair \((a,\delta)\) in \(\bar K\times G_{\bar v}\) where \(G_{\bar v}\) is the value group of \(\bar v\) such that w is the same as the valuation \(w_{a,\delta}\) defined by \(w_{a,\delta}(f(X))=\inf_{i}(\bar v(a_ i)+i\delta)\) where \(a_ i\) is the coefficient of \((X-a)^ i\) in the Taylor expansion of f(X) about a. Such a pair \((a,\delta)\) is called minimal pair with respect to K if for every b in K with \(\bar v(b-a)\geq \delta\), \([K(a):K]\leq [K(b):K]\). The authors show that every residual transcendental extension w of v to \(K(X)\) has a minimal pair of definition \((a,\delta)\) with a separable over K. They consider the question of minimal pair of the valuation \(w_{a,\delta}\) on \(\bar K(X)\) with respect to K for any given pair \((a,\delta)\) when \((K,v)\) is a Henselian field. In the last section the existence of some residual transcendental extension v of \(K(X)\) with prescribed residue field and value group is established. [This was also established by different methods by \textit{M. Matignon} and \textit{J. Ohm}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 104, No.2, 392-402 (1988; Zbl 0692.12011)]. In theorem 4.5 a general condition is given under which \(d(w/v)=e(w/v)\cdot f(w/v)\) where \(d(w/v)\) denotes the least integer n such that there exists a rational function \(r(X)\) in the valuation ring \(df\;K(X)\) with respect to w of degree n such that its image in \(k_ w\) is transcendental over \(k_ v\). The other constants e(w/v) and \(f(w| v)\) have their usual meaning. This result is used to prove the conjectures of \textit{J. Ohm} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 25, 583-596 (1985; Zbl 0582.12014)].