Vanishing of negative $K$-theory in positive characteristic

Abstract

We show how a theorem of Gabber on alterations can be used to apply work of Cisinski, Suslin, Voevodsky, and Weibel to prove that $K_n(X)[1/p] = 0$ for $n < - \dim X$ where $X$ is a quasi-excellent noetherian scheme, $p$ is a prime that is nilpotent on $X$, and $K_n$ is the $K$-theory of Bass-Thomason-Trobaugh. This gives a partial answer to a question of Weibel.