Examples of Non-Noetherian Valuation Rings

Consider the tower of domains

$$ K[x]\subset K[x^{1/2}]\subset \cdots \subset K[x^{1/2^k}]\subset\cdots $$

where $K$ is a field and $x$ is transcendental over $K$. Every ring in the chain is a polynomial ring in one variable over $K$. Thus the localizations $O_k:=K[x^{1/2^k}]_{P_k}$, where $P_k$ is the prime ideal generated by $x^{1/2^k}$ are discrete valuation rings. Since $P_{k+1}\cap K[x^{1/2^k}]=P_k$ one has $O_k\subset O_{k+1}$ and $M_{k+1}\cap O_k =M_k$ for the maximal ideals $M_k$ of the rings $O_k$.

Now $O:=\bigcup\limits_k O_k$ is a non-noetherian valuation ring of the field $K(x^{1/2^k} : k\in\mathbb{N})$. The value group of an associated valuation is order-isomorphic to the subgroup $\{z/2^k : z\in\mathbb{Z}, k\in\mathbb{N}\}\subset\mathbb{Q}$. Hence this example yields a non-noetherian valuation ring of Krull dimension $1$.

Valuation rings that have dimension $\geq 2$ are not Noetherian. The dimension of a valuation ring is equal to the rank of its value group.

To get a simple example of a valuation ring that has dimension $2$, take $R = k[x,y]$, where $k$ is a field. Define the standard valuation $v: k(x,y) \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}^2$ with $v(x) = (1,0) \leq v(y) = (0,1)$, and take the value of a polynomial as the minimal values among those of its monomials. The value group is $\mathbb{Z}^2$, which has rank $2$. So the valuation ring is not Noetherian. This example is "standard" in the sense that it is encountered more often. However, Hagen's example is more interesting.

In order to obtain a non Noetherian valuation ring, take $\mathbb{Z}^2$ with the lexicographic order. Define the valuation $v:k(x,y)^* \to \mathbb{Z}^2$ as follows: for any $a \in k^*$ and $0 \le n,m \in \mathbb{Z}$ set $v(ax^ny^m)=(n,m)$. For a polynomial $\: f=\sum f_i \in k[x,y]^*$ set $v(f)= \inf \{v(f_0),...,v(f_d)\} $ where the $f_i$ are distinct monomials. Finally for a rational function $f \in k(x,y)^*$ there are $ g,h \in k[x,y]$ such that $f= \frac{g}{h}$ set $v(f)= v(g)-v(h)$. The corresponding valuation ring $R_v= \{f \:|\: v(f) \ge 0\}\cup \{0\}$ contains $k[x,y]$, but it also contains $xy^{-1}$ since $(0,0) < (1,-1)$. In fact $xy^n \in R_v$ for any $n \in \mathbb{Z}$. It follows that $R_v=k[x,y,x/y,x/y^2,x/y^3...]_{(y)}$.