nLab characteristic zero

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Definition

Every commutative ring RR has a characteristic: it is zero if equivalently

If a mathematical construct involves a “base ring”, e.g. an algebraic variety, then we say that it is in characteristic zero, if its base ring is.

Examples

The basic example of a ring of characteristic zero is the field \mathbb{Q} of rational numbers. Therefore one often says that any ring (or even super ring) RR\supset \mathbb{Q} containing the rationals is also of characteristic zero.

The basic example of an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero is the field \mathbb{C} of complex numbers.

In model theory, there is a first-order theory of fields: every (commutative) field is a model. There is a transfer principle called Lefschetz principle which says: every sentence expressed in the first order theory of fields which is true for complex numbers is true for every algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. It is named after Solomon Lefschetz who used it in algebraic geometry, reasoning topologically for other algebarically closed fields of characteristic zero. The formalization and its proof are due Alfred Tarski.

Last revised on February 1, 2024 at 14:53:36. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.