Small extensions of abelian ordered groups

Abstract

Let $\Gamma$ be a totally ordered group. We use Hahn's embedding theorem to construct a totally ordered set $\Gamma\subset \Gamma_{\operatorname{sme}}$ which classifies small extensions of $\Gamma$. This small-extensions closure $\Gamma_{\operatorname{sme}}$ is complete and plays a crucial role in the description of equivalence classes of valuations on the polynomial ring $K[x]$ over a field $K$.