On Chains Associated with Elements Algebraic over a Henselian Valued Field

Abstract

Let v be a henselian valuation of a field K, and [Formula: see text] be the (unique) extension of v to a fixed algebraic closure [Formula: see text] of K. For an element [Formula: see text], a chain [Formula: see text] of elements of [Formula: see text] such that θi is of minimal degree over K with the property that [Formula: see text] and θm ∈ K, is called a complete distinguished chain for θ with respect to (K, v). In 1995, Popescu and Zaharescu proved the existence of a complete distinguished chain for each [Formula: see text] when (K, v) is a complete discrete rank one valued field (cf. [10]). In this paper, for a henselian valued field (K, v) of arbitrary rank, we characterize those elements [Formula: see text] for which there exists a complete distinguished chain. It is shown that a complete distinguished chain for θ gives rise to several invariants associated to θ which are same for all the K-conjugates of θ.