On the existential theory of equicharacteristic henselian valued fields

The first order theory of a henselian valued field of residue characteristic zero is well-understood through the celebrated Ax-Kochen-Ershov principle, which states that it is completely determined by the theory of the residue field and the theory of the value group. For henselian valued fields of positive residue characteristic, no such general principle is known. I will report on joint work with Will Anscombe in which we study (parts of) the theory of equicharacteristic henselian valued fields and prove an Ax-Kochen-Ershov principle for existential (and slightly more general) sentences. I will also discuss applications to the definability of henselian valuation rings and to the existential decidability (Hilbert’s tenth problem) of the local field F_q((t)), which was proven by Denef and Schoutens assuming resolution of singularities.