Degree Functions in Local Rings

Abstract

Let Q be a local domain of dimension d with maximal ideal m and let q be an m-primary ideal. Then we define the degree function dq(x) to be the multiplicity of the ideal , where x; is a non-zero element of m. The degree function was introduced by Samuel (5) in the case where q = m. The function dq(x) satisfies the simple identityThe main purpose of this paper is to obtain a formulawhere vi(x) denotes a discrete valuation centred on m (i.e. vi(x) ≥ 0 if x ∈ Q, vi(x) > 0 if x ∈ m) of the field of fractions K of Q. The valuations vi(x) are assumed to have the further property that their residue fields Ki have transcendence degree d − 1 over k = Q/m. The symbol di(q) denotes a non-negative integer associated with vi(x) and q which for fixed q is zero for all save a finite set of valuations vi(x).