On definitions of polynomials over function fields of positive characteristi

Alexandra Shlapentokh

Published 2015-02-09Version 1

We consider the problem of defining polynomials over function fields of positive characteristic. Among other results, we show that the following assertions are true. 1. Let $\G_p$ be an algebraic extension of a field of $p$ elements and assume $\G_p$ is not algebraically closed. Let $t$ be transcendental over $\G_p$, and let $K$ be a finite extension of $\G_p(t)$. In this case $\G_p[t]$ has a definition (with parameters) over $K$ of the form $\forall \exists \ldots \exists P$ with only one variable in the range of the universal quantifier and $P$ being a polynomial over $K$. 2. For any $q$, for all $p \not=q$ and all function fields $K$ as above with $\G_p$ having an extension of degree $q$ and a primitive $q$-th root of unity, there is a uniform in $p$ and $K$ definition (with parameters) of $\G_p[t]$, of the form $\exists \ldots \exists \forall \forall \exists \ldots \exists P$ with only two variables in the range of universal quantifiers and $P$ being a finite collection of disjunction and conjunction of polynomial equations over $\Z/p$. Further, for any finite collection $\calS_K$ of primes of $K$ of fixed size $m$, there is a uniform in $K$ and $p$ definition of the ring of $\calS_K$-integers of the form $\forall\forall\exists \ldots \exists P$ with the range of universal quantifiers and $P$ as above. 3. Let $M$ be a function field of positive characteristic in one variable $t$ over an arbitrary constant field $H,$ and let $\G_p$ be the algebraic closure of a finite field in $H$. Assume $\G_p$ is not algebraically closed. In this case $\G_p[t]$ is first-order definable over $M$.