Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 December 2014
We show that the valuation ring $F_q [[t]]$ in the local field $F_q \left( t \right)$ is existentially definable in the language of rings with no parameters. The method is to use the definition of the henselian topology following the work of Prestel-Ziegler to give an ∃-$F_q $-definable bounded neighbouhood of 0. Then we “tweak” this set by subtracting, taking roots, and applying Hensel’s Lemma in order to find an ∃-$F_q $-definable subset of $F_q [[t]]$ which contains $tF_q [[t]]$. Finally, we use the fact that $F_q $ is defined by the formula $x^q - x = 0$ to extend the definition to the whole of $F_q [[t]]$ and to rid the definition of parameters.
Several extensions of the theorem are obtained, notably an ∃-∅-definition of the valuation ring of a nontrivial valuation with divisible value group.