The Stacks project

Proof. We will use Lemma 47.3.5 to prove (1). Suppose that $E \subset E' \subset I$ and that $E'$ is an essential extension of $E$. We will show that $E' = E$. If not, then we can find $x \in E'$ and $x \not\in E$. Let $J = \{ a \in R \mid ax \in E\}$. Since $R$ is Noetherian, we may write $J = (g_1, \ldots , g_ t)$ for some $g_ i \in R$. By definition $E$ is the set of elements of $I$ annihilated by powers of $f$, so we may choose integers $n_ i$ so that $f^{n_ i}g_ ix = 0$. Set $n = \mathrm{max}\{ n_ i \}$. Then $x' = f^ n x$ is an element of $E'$ not in $E$ and is annihilated by $J$. Set $J' = \{ a \in R \mid ax' \in E \}$ so $J \subset J'$. Conversely, we have $a \in J'$ if and only if $ax' \in E$ if and only if $f^ m a x' = 0$ for some $m \geq 0$. But then $f^ m a x' = f^{m + n} a x$ implies $ax \in E$, i.e., $a \in J$. Hence $J = J'$. Thus $J = J' = \text{Ann}(x')$, so $Rx' \cap E = 0$. Hence $E'$ is not an essential extension of $E$, a contradiction.

To prove (2) write $J = (f_1, \ldots , f_ t)$. Then $I[J^\infty ]$ is equal to

and the result follows from (1) and induction. $\square$