\documentclass{lecture} \begin{document} \section{Prime ideals in $k[x,y]$} \begin{satz} Let $A$ be a principal ideal domain. Let $\mathfrak{p} \subseteq A[X]$ be a prime ideal. Then $\mathfrak{p}$ satisfies exactly one of the following three mutually exclusive possibilities: \begin{enumerate}[(i)] \item $\mathfrak{p} = (0)$ \item $\mathfrak{p} = (f)$, where $f \in A[X]$ is irreducible \item $\mathfrak{p} = (a, q)$, where $a \in A$ is irreducible and $q \in A[X]$ such that its reduction modulo $a A$ is an irreducible element in $A / aA [X]$. In this case, $\mathfrak{p}$ is a maximal ideal. \end{enumerate} \label{thm:class-prim-pol-pid} \end{satz} \begin{proof} Let $\mathfrak{p} \subseteq A[X]$ be a prime ideal. If $\mathfrak{p}$ is principal, then $\mathfrak{p} = (f)$ for some $f \in A[X]$. If $f = 0$, we are done. Otherwise, since $A[X]$ is factorial by Gauß and $\mathfrak{p}$ is prime, $f$ is irreducible. Let now $\mathfrak{p}$ not be principal. Then there exist $f, g \in \mathfrak{p}$ without common factors in $A[X]$. By \ref{satz:coprime-in-r-is-coprime-in-qr}, they also have no common factors in the principal ideal domain $Q(A)[X]$, so $Mf + Ng = 1$ for some $M, N \in Q(A)[X]$. By multiplying with the denominators, we obtain $Pf + Qg = b$ for some $b \in A$ and $P, Q \in A[X]$. So $b \in (f, g) \subseteq \mathfrak{p}$, thus there is an irreducible factor $a$ of $b$ in $A$ such that $a \in \mathfrak{p}$. Moreover, $a A[X] \subsetneq \mathfrak{p}$ since $\mathfrak{p}$ is not principal. Now consider the prime ideal \[ \mathfrak{p} / a A[X] \subset A[X]/aA[X] \simeq \left( A / aA \right)[X] .\] Since $A$ is a PID and $a$ is irreducible, $A/aA$ is a field and $(A / aA)[X]$ a PID. So $\mathfrak{p}/aA[X]$ is generated by an irreducible element $\overline{q} \in (A/aA)[X]$ for some $q \in A[X]$. Thus $\mathfrak{p} = (a, q)$. Moreover \[ \faktor{A[X]}{\mathfrak{p}} \simeq \faktor{\left(\faktor{A}{aA}\right)[X]}{\left(\faktor{\mathfrak{p}}{aA}\right)[X]} = \faktor{\left( \faktor{A}{aA} \right)[X] } {\overline{q} \left( \faktor{A}{aA} \right)[X] } \] which is a field since $\left( \faktor{A}{aA} \right)[X]$ is a PID. So $\mathfrak{p}$ is maximal in $A[X]$. \end{proof} Using \ref{thm:class-prim-pol-pid} we can give a simple proof for the classification of maximal ideals of $k[T_1, \ldots, T_n]$ when $k$ is algebraically closed and $n=2$. \begin{korollar} If $k$ is algebraically closed, a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$ of $k[x,y]$ is of the form $\mathfrak{m} = (x-a, y-b)$ with $(a, b) \in k^2$. In particular, principal ideals are never maximal. \label{kor:max-ideals-alg-closed-k2} \end{korollar} \begin{proof} Since $\mathfrak{m}$ is maximal, it is prime and $\mathfrak{m} \neq (0)$. By \ref{thm:class-prim-pol-pid}, $\mathfrak{m} = (P, f)$ with $P \in k[x]$ irreducible and $f \in k[x,y]$ such that its image $\overline{f}$ in $(k[x]/(P))[y]$ is irreducible or $\mathfrak{m} = (f)$ for $f \in k[x,y]$ irreducible. \begin{enumerate}[(1)] \item $\mathfrak{m} = (P, f)$. Since $k$ is algebraically closed and $P \in k[x]$ is irreducible, $P = x - a$ for some $a \in k$. \[ k[x]/(P) = k[x]/(x-a) \simeq k .\] Since $\overline{f} \in k[y]$ is also irreducible, $\overline{f} = y - b$ for some $b \in k$. \item $\mathfrak{m} = (f)$. Since $k = \overline{k}$, $\mathcal{V}(f)$ is infinite, in particular $\mathcal{V}(f) \neq \emptyset$. Then if $(a,b) \in \mathcal{V}(f)$, \[ (x-a, y-b) = \mathcal{I}(\{(a, b)\}) \supset \mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(f)) \supset (f) .\] Since $(f)$ is maximal, it follows that $(f) = (x-a, y-b)$, which is impossible since $x -a $ and $y-b$ habe no common factors in $k[x,y]$. \end{enumerate} \end{proof} \begin{bem}[] The ideal $(x^2 + 1, y)$ is maximal in $\R[x,y]$ and is not of the form $(x-a, y-b)$ for $(a,b) \in \R^2$. Indeed, \[ \faktor{\R[x,y]}{(x^2 + 1, y)} \simeq \faktor{\left( \R[y]/y\R[y] \right)[x]}{(x^2 + 1)} \simeq \R[x]/(x^2 + 1) \simeq \mathbb{C} .\] \end{bem} \begin{satz}[] Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field. Then the maps $V \mapsto \mathcal{I}(V)$ and $I \mapsto \mathcal{V}(I)$ induce a bijection \begin{salign*} \{ \text{irreducible algebraic subsets of } k^2\} &\longleftrightarrow \{ \text{prime ideals in } k[x,y]\} \intertext{through wich we have correspondences} \text{points } (a, b) \in k^2 &\longleftrightarrow \text{maximal ideals } (x-a, y-b) \text{ in }k[x,y] \\ \text{proper, infinite, irreducible algebraic sets} &\longleftrightarrow \text{prime ideals } (f) \subseteq k[x,y] \text{ with } f \text{ irreducible} \\ k^2 &\longleftrightarrow (0) .\end{salign*} \label{satz:correspondence-irred-subsets-prime-ideals} \end{satz} \begin{proof} Let $V \subseteq k^2$ be an irreducible algebraic set. By \ref{satz:classification-irred-alg-subsets-plane} we can distinguish the following cases: \begin{enumerate}[(i)] \item If $V = k^2$, then $\mathcal{I}(V) = (0)$ since $k$ is infinite and $\mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(0)) = (0)$. \item If $V = \{(a,b)\} $, then $\mathcal{I}(V) \supset (x-a, y-b) \eqqcolon \mathfrak{m} $. Since $\mathfrak{m}$ is maximal, $\mathcal{I}(V) = \mathfrak{m}$. Since $V = \mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{m})$, this also shows $\mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{m})) = \mathfrak{m}$. \item If $V = \mathcal{V}(f)$ where $f \in k[x,y]$ is irreducible, then by \ref{thm:plane-curve-ivf=f} $\mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(f)) = (f)$. \end{enumerate} So, every irreducible algebraic set $V \subseteq k^2$ is of the form $\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{p})$ for some prime ideal $\mathfrak{p} \subseteq k[x,y]$. Moreover, \[ \mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{p})) = \mathfrak{p} .\] Let now $\mathfrak{p}$ be a prime ideal in $k[x,y]$. By \ref{thm:class-prim-pol-pid} we can dinstiguish the following cases: \begin{enumerate}[(i)] \item $\mathfrak{p} = (0)$: Then $\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{p}) = k^2$ and since $k$ is infinite, $k^2$ is irreducible. \item $\mathfrak{p}$ maximal: Then by \ref{kor:max-ideals-alg-closed-k2}, $\mathfrak{p} = (x-a, y-b)$ for some $(a, b) \in k^2$. So $\mathcal{V}(m) = \{(a, b)\}$ is irreducible. \item $\mathfrak{p} = (f)$ with $f \in k[x,y]$ irreducible. Since $k = \overline{k}$, $\mathcal{V}(f)$ is infinite and hence by \ref{thm:plane-curve-ivf=f} irreducible. \end{enumerate} Thus the maps in the proposition are well-defined, mutually inverse and induce the stated correspondences. \end{proof} \begin{korollar} Assume that $k$ is algebraically closed and let $\mathfrak{p} \subseteq k[x,y]$ be a prime ideal. Then \[ \mathfrak{p} = \bigcap_{\mathfrak{m} \; \mathrm{maximal}, \mathfrak{m} \supset \mathfrak{p}} \mathfrak{m} .\] \end{korollar} \begin{proof} If $\mathfrak{p}$ is maximal, there is nothing to prove. If $\mathfrak{p} = (0)$, $\mathfrak{p}$ is contained in $(x-a, y-b)$ for $(a, b) \in k^2$. Since $k$ is infinite, the intersection of these ideals is $(0)$. Otherwise, by \ref{satz:correspondence-irred-subsets-prime-ideals}, $\mathfrak{p} = (f)$ for some $f \in k[x,y]$ irreducible. Then, since $k = \overline{k}$, $\mathcal{V}(f)$ is infinite and with \ref{thm:plane-curve-ivf=f}: \[ \mathfrak{p} = (f) = \mathcal{I}(\mathcal{V}(f)) = \mathcal{I}\left( \bigcup_{(a, b) \in \mathcal{V}(f)} \{(a, b)\} \right) \supset \bigcap_{(a,b) \in \mathcal{V}(f)} \mathcal{I}(\{(a,b)\}) \supset (f) = \mathfrak{p} .\] By \ref{satz:correspondence-irred-subsets-prime-ideals}, the ideals $\mathcal{I}(\{(a,b)\})$ for $(a, b) \in \mathcal{V}(f)$ are exactly the maximal ideals containing $(f) = \mathfrak{p}$. \end{proof} \begin{korollar} Let $\mathfrak{p} \subseteq k[x,y]$ be a non-principal prime ideal. Then $\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{p}) \subseteq k^2$ is finite. \end{korollar} \begin{proof} Since $\mathfrak{p}$ is not principal, there exist $f, g \in \mathfrak{p}$ without common factors. Since $(f, g) \subset \mathfrak{p}$, we have \[ \mathcal{V}(f) \cap \mathcal{V}(g) = \mathcal{V}(f, g) \supset \mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{p}) \] and the left hand side is finite by \ref{lemma:coprime-finite-zero-locus}. \end{proof} \end{document}