Generalized test ideals, sharp F-purity, and sharp test elements
Abstract
Description
Consider a pair $(R, \ba^t)$ where $R$ is a ring of positive characteristic, $\ba$ is an ideal such that $a \cap $R^{\circ} \neq \emptyset$, and $t > 0$ is a real number. In this situation we have the ideal $τ_R(\ba^t)$, the generalized test ideal associated to $(R, a^t)$ as defined by Hara and Yoshida. We show that $τ_R(a^t) \cap R^{\circ}$ is made up of appropriately defined generalized test elements which we call \emph{sharp test elements}. We also define a variant of $F$-purity for pairs, \emph{sharp $F$-purity}, which interacts well with sharp test elements and agrees with previously defined notions of $F$-purity in many common situations. We show that if $(R, \ba^t)$ is sharply F-pure, then $τ_R(\ba^t)$ is a radical ideal. Furthermore, by following an argument of Vassilev, we show that if $R$ is a quotient of an $F$-finite regular local ring and $(R, \ba^t)$ is sharply $F$-pure, then $R/{τ_R(\ba^t)}$ itself is $F$-pure. We conclude by showing that sharp $F$-purity can be used to define the $F$-pure threshold. As an application we show that the $F$-pure threshold must be a rational number under certain hypotheses.
Theorem 2.9 added. Several typos corrected and proofs expanded. To appear in Mathematical Research Letters
Theorem 2.9 added. Several typos corrected and proofs expanded. To appear in Mathematical Research Letters