On universally catenarian pairs (Q932286)

If \(n\) is a positive integer (\(1\leq n < \infty\)) and \(R\subseteq S\) are integral domains, then \((R,S)\) is called an \(n\)-catenarian pair if for each intermediate ring \(T\) (that is, for each ring \(T\) such that \(R \subseteq T\subseteq S\)) the polynomial ring in \(n\) indeterminates with coefficients in \(T\), \(T[n]\), is catenarian. The pair \((R,S)\) is called a universally catenarian pair if it is a \(n\)-catenarian pair for each \(n,\) \(1\leq n < \infty\). It is obvious that \((R,S)\) is \(n\)-catenarian implies that \((R,S)\) is \(m\)-catenarian for all \(m\leq n\). The present work is motivated by the following facts: (a) there exist examples of non-noetherian rings \(R\) such that \(R[X]\) is catenarian but \(R\) is not universally catenarian [\textit{M. Ben Nasr} and \textit{N. Jarboui}, J. Algebra 248, 785--789 (2002; Zbl 1041.13008)]; (b) there exist several characterizations of universally catenarian pairs [\textit{A. Ayache, M. Ben Nasr, O. Echi}, and \textit{N. Jarboui}, Math. Z. 238, 695--731 (2001; Zbl 1085.13503)]. The main purpose of this paper is to prove that 1-catenarian and universally catenarian pairs are equivalent in several cases. However, the authors provide an example of a 1-catenarian pair which is not 2-catenarian.