Principal Weil divisor Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-07
On a normal integral Noetherian scheme, a nonzero rational function defines the displayed Weil divisor, with the sum over codimension-one prime divisors. The local ring at each such divisor is a discrete valuation ring, so the order is well defined. The divisor class group is the group of Weil divisors modulo principal Weil divisors. On a smooth curve this agrees with a principal divisor on an algebraic curve.
For an integral generator of a number field, let and suppose is coprime to . Localizing at makes and the ring of integers equal, so reduction gives the displayed quotient ring. If with distinct monic irreducible polynomials, the Chinese remainder theorem gives local factors . Their residue fields have degrees and their maximal ideals have nilpotence indices of an ideal . Localizing the Dedekind domain at the corresponding prime ideals gives discrete valuation rings, where this same nilpotence index of an ideal is the ramification index of a prime ideal. Thus and each residue degree is .
Ring structure of the p-adic integers 2026-10-14
The p-adic integers form a complete metric space and a discrete valuation ring. Every nonzero is uniquely with and a p-adic unit. The prime is a uniformizer, and reduction modulo gives the residue field . The element has no inverse inside , so the ring is not a field.
For a short ideal-classification outline, take a nonzero ideal and choose an element of smallest P-adic valuation , which exists by the well-ordering principle. Its unit factor is invertible, so the ideal contains . Every other element is divisible by , proving that the ideal is . Completeness follows because is a closed subset of the complete metric space . The zero ideal is separate from this nonzero-ideal classification.
Saturated line subbundle on a smooth curve 2026-10-14
A rank-one subsheaf of a vector bundle on a smooth algebraic curve is saturated when the quotient is torsion-free. Intersecting a one-dimensional subspace of the generic fibre with each stalk constructs a saturated subsheaf. The local ring of a smooth algebraic curve is a discrete valuation ring, so the subsheaf and its torsion-free quotient are locally free. Saturating a nonzero map from a line bundle enlarges that line bundle by an effective divisor, recording the map's zeros.
Uniformizer Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A uniformizer of a discrete valuation ring is a generator of its unique nonzero maximal ideal. Every nonzero in the fraction field has a unique expression with a unit and .