Valuation Rings, Discrete Valuation Ring

Discrete Valuation Ring

Let the ring R be a valuation ring, with valuation group G.  Remember that G is linearly ordered.  We can assign the elements of G the order topology.  If this topology is discrete (I'll explain this below), then R is a discrete valuation ring, also known as a dvr.

Remember that every point in a discrete topology is an open set.  In other words, every x has an immediate predecessor and successor.  These two elements bound x and make x an open set.

If you think about it, it's hard to build a valuation group that is not discrete.  Here's why.  Suppose G is not discrete at x.  This means x is a cluster point of G.  Consider any other point y and add y-x to all the points in G.  This transformation preserves order, so y is also a cluster point.  Since y was arbitrary, every point in G is a cluster point.

There are ordered groups that look like this, but they usually aren't valuation groups.  Consider the group generated by 1 and sqrt(2).  This is isomorphic to Z*Z, with the ordering of the reals.  The group is countable, so it doesn't cover all the reals.  If a/b is a rational number that is within ε of the square root of 2, then a-b×sqrt(2) is within ε of 0.  This makes 0 a cluster point, and every point is a cluster point.  In fact, G is dense in the real line.  Clearly G does not have the discrete topology, but G isn't a valuation group either.

If R is a valuation ring and a pid, it produces a valuation group equal to Z.  Every element of G has an immediate predecessor and successor, G is discrete, and R is a dvr.