Extending a Dedekind Domain

Integral Extensions, Extending a Dedekind Domain

Extending a Dedekind Domain

Let S be an integral extension of a dedekind domain R.  Further suppose S is a noetherian integral domain that is integrally closed.  We will show that S is also a dedekind domain.

Since S is integral over R, chains of prime ideals pull down from S into R.  Thus if Q1 contains Q2 contains 0 in S, P1 contains P2 contains 0 in R.  The latter is impossible, hence every nonzero prime ideal in S is maximal.  By definition 9, S is a dedekind domain.

How do we know S is noetherian?  Often S is a finite integral extension, whence S is a finitely generated R module, and is noetherian.  A noetherian R module is a noetherian S module, hence S is a noetherian ring.

How do we know S is integrally closed?  this is usually handled case by case.  You must prove that the extension is integrally closed, and then it becomes a dedekind domain.