A characterization of minimal prime ideals

Abstract

AbstractLet P be a prime ideal of a ring R, O(P) = {a ∊ R | aRs = 0, for some s ∊ R/P} | and Ō(P) = {x ∊ R | xn ∊ O(P), for some positive integer n}. Several authors have obtained sheaf representations of rings whose stalks are of the form R/O(P). Also in a commutative ring a minimal prime ideal has been characterized as a prime ideal P such that P= Ō(P). In this paper we derive various conditions which ensure that a prime ideal P = Ō(P). The property that P = Ō(P) is then used to obtain conditions which determine when R/O(P) has a unique minimal prime ideal. Various generalizations of O(P) and Ō(P) are considered. Examples are provided to illustrate and delimit our results.