This is a description of some different approaches which have been taken to the problem of generalizing the algebraic closure of a field. Work surveyed is by Enoch and Hochster (commutative algebra), Raphael (categories and rings of quotients), Borho (the polynomial approach), and Carson (logic).Later work and applications are given.
Let (R;m) be a 2-dimensional rational singularity with algebraically closed residue field and whose associated graded ring is an integrally closed domain. Göhner has shown that for every prime divisor v of R, there exists a unique one-fibered complete m-primary ideal A v in R with unique Rees valuation v and such that any complete m-primary ideal with unique Rees valuation v, is a power of A v. We show that for v ≠ ordR, A v is the inverse transform of a simple complete ideal in an immediate quadratic...