## 42.5 Tame symbols

Consider a Noetherian local ring $(A, \mathfrak m)$ of dimension $1$. We denote $Q(A)$ the total ring of fractions of $A$, see Algebra, Example 10.9.8. The tame symbol will be a map

$\partial _ A(-, -) : Q(A)^* \times Q(A)^* \longrightarrow \kappa (\mathfrak m)^*$

satisfying the following properties:

1. $\partial _ A(f, gh) = \partial _ A(f, g) \partial _ A(f, h)$ for $f, g, h \in Q(A)^*$,

2. $\partial _ A(f, g) \partial _ A(g, f) = 1$ for $f, g \in Q(A)^*$,

3. $\partial _ A(f, 1 - f) = 1$ for $f \in Q(A)^*$ such that $1 - f \in Q(A)^*$,

4. $\partial _ A(aa', b) = \partial _ A(a, b)\partial _ A(a', b)$ and $\partial _ A(a, bb') = \partial _ A(a, b)\partial _ A(a, b')$ for $a, a', b, b' \in A$ nonzerodivisors,

5. $\partial _ A(b, b) = (-1)^ m$ with $m = \text{length}_ A(A/bA)$ for $b \in A$ a nonzerodivisor,

6. $\partial _ A(u, b) = u^ m \bmod \mathfrak m$ with $m = \text{length}_ A(A/bA)$ for $u \in A$ a unit and $b \in A$ a nonzerodivisor, and

7. $\partial _ A(a, b - a)\partial _ A(b, b) = \partial _ A(b, b - a)\partial _ A(a, b)$ for $a, b \in A$ such that $a, b, b - a$ are nonzerodivisors.

Since it is easier to work with elements of $A$ we will often think of $\partial _ A$ as a map defined on pairs of nonzerodivisors of $A$ satisfying (4), (5), (6), (7). It is an exercise to see that setting

$\partial _ A(\frac{a}{b}, \frac{c}{d}) = \partial _ A(a, c) \partial _ A(a, d)^{-1} \partial _ A(b, c)^{-1} \partial _ A(b, d)$

we get a well defined map $Q(A)^* \times Q(A)^* \to \kappa (\mathfrak m)^*$ satisfying (1), (2), (3) as well as the other properties.

We do not claim there is a unique map with these properties. Instead, we will give a recipe for constructing such a map. Namely, given $a_1, a_2 \in A$ nonzerodivisors, we choose a ring extension $A \subset B$ and local factorizations as in Lemma 42.4.4. Then we define

42.5.0.1
$$\label{chow-equation-tame-symbol} \partial _ A(a_1, a_2) = \prod \nolimits _ j \text{Norm}_{\kappa (\mathfrak m_ j)/\kappa (\mathfrak m)} ((-1)^{e_{1, j}e_{2, j}}u_{1, j}^{e_{2, j}}u_{2, j}^{-e_{1, j}} \bmod \mathfrak m_ j)^{m_ j}$$

where $m_ j = \text{length}_{B_ j}(B_ j/\pi _ j B_ j)$ and the product is taken over the maximal ideals $\mathfrak m_1, \ldots , \mathfrak m_ r$ of $B$.

Lemma 42.5.1. The formula (42.5.0.1) determines a well defined element of $\kappa (\mathfrak m)^*$. In other words, the right hand side does not depend on the choice of the local factorizations or the choice of $B$.

Proof. Independence of choice of factorizations. Suppose we have a Noetherian $1$-dimensional local ring $B$, elements $a_1, a_2 \in B$, and nonzerodivisors $\pi , \theta$ such that we can write

$a_1 = u_1 \pi ^{e_1} = v_1 \theta ^{f_1},\quad a_2 = u_2 \pi ^{e_2} = v_2 \theta ^{f_2}$

with $e_ i, f_ i \geq 0$ integers and $u_ i, v_ i$ units in $B$. Observe that this implies

$a_1^{e_2} = u_1^{e_2}u_2^{-e_1}a_2^{e_1},\quad a_1^{f_2} = v_1^{f_2}v_2^{-f_1}a_2^{f_1}$

On the other hand, setting $m = \text{length}_ B(B/\pi B)$ and $k = \text{length}_ B(B/\theta B)$ we find $e_2 m = \text{length}_ B(B/a_2 B) = f_2 k$. Expanding $a_1^{e_2m} = a_1^{f_2 k}$ using the above we find

$(u_1^{e_2}u_2^{-e_1})^ m = (v_1^{f_2}v_2^{-f_1})^ k$

This proves the desired equality up to signs. To see the signs work out we have to show $me_1e_2$ is even if and only if $kf_1f_2$ is even. This follows as both $me_2 = kf_2$ and $me_1 = kf_1$ (same argument as above).

Independence of choice of $B$. Suppose given two extensions $A \subset B$ and $A \subset B'$ as in Lemma 42.4.4. Then

$C = (B \otimes _ A B')/(\mathfrak m\text{-power torsion})$

will be a third one. Thus we may assume we have $A \subset B \subset C$ and factorizations over the local rings of $B$ and we have to show that using the same factorizations over the local rings of $C$ gives the same element of $\kappa (\mathfrak m)$. By transitivity of norms (Fields, Lemma 9.20.5) this comes down to the following problem: if $B$ is a Noetherian local ring of dimension $1$ and $\pi \in B$ is a nonzerodivisor, then

$\lambda ^ m = \prod \text{Norm}_{\kappa _ k/\kappa }(\lambda )^{m_ k}$

Here we have used the following notation: (1) $\kappa$ is the residue field of $B$, (2) $\lambda$ is an element of $\kappa$, (3) $\mathfrak m_ k \subset C$ are the maximal ideals of $C$, (4) $\kappa _ k = \kappa (\mathfrak m_ k)$ is the residue field of $C_ k = C_{\mathfrak m_ k}$, (5) $m = \text{length}_ B(B/\pi B)$, and (6) $m_ k = \text{length}_{C_ k}(C_ k/\pi C_ k)$. The displayed equality holds because $\text{Norm}_{\kappa _ k/\kappa }(\lambda ) = \lambda ^{[\kappa _ k : \kappa ]}$ as $\lambda \in \kappa$ and because $m = \sum m_ k[\kappa _ k:\kappa ]$. First, we have $m = \text{length}_ B(B/xB) = \text{length}_ B(C/\pi C)$ by Lemma 42.2.5 and (42.2.2.1). Finally, we have $\text{length}_ B(C/\pi C) = \sum m_ k[\kappa _ k:\kappa ]$ by Algebra, Lemma 10.52.12. $\square$

Lemma 42.5.2. The tame symbol (42.5.0.1) satisfies (4), (5), (6), (7) and hence gives a map $\partial _ A : Q(A)^* \times Q(A)^* \to \kappa (\mathfrak m)^*$ satisfying (1), (2), (3).

Proof. Let us prove (4). Let $a_1, a_2, a_3 \in A$ be nonzerodivisors. Choose $A \subset B$ as in Lemma 42.4.4 for $a_1, a_2, a_3$. Then the equality

$\partial _ A(a_1a_2, a_3) = \partial _ A(a_1, a_3) \partial _ A(a_2, a_3)$

follows from the equality

$(-1)^{(e_{1, j} + e_{2, j})e_{3, j}} (u_{1, j}u_{2, j})^{e_{3, j}}u_{3, j}^{-e_{1, j} - e_{2, j}} = (-1)^{e_{1, j}e_{3, j}} u_{1, j}^{e_{3, j}}u_{3, j}^{-e_{1, j}} (-1)^{e_{2, j}e_{3, j}} u_{2, j}^{e_{3, j}}u_{3, j}^{-e_{2, j}}$

in $B_ j$. Properties (5) and (6) are equally immediate.

Let us prove (7). Let $a_1, a_2, a_1 - a_2 \in A$ be nonzerodivisors and set $a_3 = a_1 - a_2$. Choose $A \subset B$ as in Lemma 42.4.4 for $a_1, a_2, a_3$. Then it suffices to show

$(-1)^{e_{1, j}e_{2, j} + e_{1, j}e_{3, j} + e_{2, j}e_{3, j} + e_{2, j}} u_{1, j}^{e_{2, j} - e_{3, j}} u_{2, j}^{e_{3, j} - e_{1, j}} u_{3, j}^{e_{1, j} - e_{2, j}} \bmod \mathfrak m_ j = 1$

This is clear if $e_{1, j} = e_{2, j} = e_{3, j}$. Say $e_{1, j} > e_{2, j}$. Then we see that $e_{3, j} = e_{2, j}$ because $a_3 = a_1 - a_2$ and we see that $u_{3, j}$ has the same residue class as $-u_{2, j}$. Hence the formula is true – the signs work out as well and this verification is the reason for the choice of signs in (42.5.0.1). The other cases are handled in exactly the same manner. $\square$

Lemma 42.5.3. Let $(A, \mathfrak m)$ be a Noetherian local ring of dimension $1$. Let $A \subset B$ be a finite ring extension with $B/A$ annihilated by a power of $\mathfrak m$ and $\mathfrak m$ not an associated prime of $B$. For $a, b \in A$ nonzerodivisors we have

$\partial _ A(a, b) = \prod \text{Norm}_{\kappa (\mathfrak m_ j)/\kappa (\mathfrak m)}(\partial _{B_ j}(a, b))$

where the product is over the maximal ideals $\mathfrak m_ j$ of $B$ and $B_ j = B_{\mathfrak m_ j}$.

Proof. Choose $B_ j \subset C_ j$ as in Lemma 42.4.4 for $a, b$. By Lemma 42.4.1 we can choose a finite ring extension $B \subset C$ with $C_ j \cong C_{\mathfrak m_ j}$ for all $j$. Let $\mathfrak m_{j, k} \subset C$ be the maximal ideals of $C$ lying over $\mathfrak m_ j$. Let

$a = u_{j, k}\pi _{j, k}^{f_{j, k}},\quad b = v_{j, k}\pi _{j, k}^{g_{j, k}}$

be the local factorizations which exist by our choice of $C_ j \cong C_{\mathfrak m_ j}$. By definition we have

$\partial _ A(a, b) = \prod \nolimits _{j, k} \text{Norm}_{\kappa (\mathfrak m_{j, k})/\kappa (\mathfrak m)} ((-1)^{f_{j, k}g_{j, k}}u_{j, k}^{g_{j, k}}v_{j, k}^{-f_{j, k}} \bmod \mathfrak m_{j, k})^{m_{j, k}}$

and

$\partial _{B_ j}(a, b) = \prod \nolimits _ k \text{Norm}_{\kappa (\mathfrak m_{j, k})/\kappa (\mathfrak m_ j)} ((-1)^{f_{j, k}g_{j, k}}u_{j, k}^{g_{j, k}}v_{j, k}^{-f_{j, k}} \bmod \mathfrak m_{j, k})^{m_{j, k}}$

The result follows by transitivity of norms for $\kappa (\mathfrak m_{j, k})/\kappa (\mathfrak m_ j)/\kappa (\mathfrak m)$, see Fields, Lemma 9.20.5. $\square$

Lemma 42.5.4. Let $(A, \mathfrak m, \kappa ) \to (A', \mathfrak m', \kappa ')$ be a local homomorphism of Noetherian local rings of dimension $1$. If $A \to A'$ is flat, $\mathfrak m' = \mathfrak m A'$, and $\kappa '/\kappa$ is separable, then for $a_1, a_2 \in A$ nonzerodivisors the tame symbol $\partial _ A(a_1, a_2)$ maps to $\partial _{A'}(a_1, a_2)$.

Proof. If $a_1, a_2$ are both units, then $\partial _ A(a_1, a_2) = 1$ and $\partial _{A'}(a_1, a_2) = 1$ and the result is true. If not, then we can choose a ring extension $A \subset B$ and local factorizations as in Lemma 42.4.4. Set $B' = A' \otimes _ A B$. Since $A'$ is flat over $A$ we see that $A' \subset B'$ is a ring extension with $B'/A'$ annihilated by a power of $\mathfrak m'$. Let $\mathfrak m_1, \ldots , \mathfrak m_ m$ be the maximal ideals of $B$. For each $j \in \{ 1, \ldots , m\}$ denote $\kappa _ j = \kappa (\mathfrak m_ j)$ the residue field. Then

$\kappa _ j \otimes _\kappa \kappa ' = \prod \nolimits _{l = 1, \ldots , n_ j} \kappa '_{j, l}$

is a product of fields each finite over $\kappa '$ because $\kappa '/\kappa$ is a separable field extension (Algebra, Lemma 10.43.6). It follows that $B'$ has corresponding maximal ideals $\mathfrak m'_{j, l}$ lying over $\mathfrak m_ j$. As factorizations in $B'_{j, l} = B'_{\mathfrak m'_{j, l}}$ we use the image of the factorizations $a_ i = u_{i, j} \pi _ j^{e_{i, j}}$ given to us in $B_ j$. Thus we obtain

$\partial _ A(a_1, a_2) = \prod \nolimits _ j \text{Norm}_{\kappa _ j/\kappa } ((-1)^{e_{1, j}e_{2, j}}u_{1, j}^{e_{2, j}}u_{2, j}^{-e_{1, j}} \bmod \mathfrak m_ j)^{m_ j}$

by definition and similarly

$\partial _{A'}(a_1, a_2) = \prod \nolimits _{j, l} \text{Norm}_{\kappa '_{j, l}/\kappa '} ((-1)^{e_{1, j}e_{2, j}}u_{1, j}^{e_{2, j}}u_{2, j}^{-e_{1, j}} \bmod \mathfrak m'_{j, l})^{m_ j}$

To finish the proof we observe that if $u \in \kappa _ j$ has image $u_ l \in \kappa '_{j, l}$, then $\text{Norm}_{\kappa _ j/\kappa }(u)$ in $\kappa$ maps to $\prod _ l \text{Norm}_{\kappa '_{j, l}/\kappa '}(u_ l)$ in $\kappa '$. This follows from the fact that taking determinants of linear maps commutes with ground field extension. $\square$

Comment #6283 by Yi Shan on

In the statement after the definition of tame symbols, the formula for $\partial_{A}(\frac{a}{b},\frac{c}{d})$ should be $\partial_{A}(a,c)\partial_{A}(a,d)^{-1}\partial_{A}(b,c)^{-1}\partial_{A}(b,d)$.

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