On 2-dimensional local rings with Artin's approximation property

Abstract

AbstractExtending results of Popescu and Brown, the main result of this paper is that excellent henselian R1 and S1 2-dimensional local rings, at least in characteristic zero, have the approximation property of M. Artin.Most of the paper consists of an extension of Néron's desingularization to rings which are R1 and S1; such a theorem was previously known for factorial domains. The main theorem is then deduced from this desingularization theorem using a theorem of Elkik.Because of cohomological obstructions, the desingularization theorem is proved only for quasi-projective varieties. In the previously known case for factorial domains, these obstructions are always zero and the desingularization can be obtained by blowing up subschemes. The more general desingularization of this paper is obtained by blowing up locally free sheaves instead, the obstructions being zero for this case.