Given a field extension with prime degree, if $\operatorname{Aut}(K/F) > 1$, then this extension is Galois

abstract-algebraextension-fieldfield-theorygalois-theory

Let $|K:F| = p$ be a field extension of degree $p$. For each $\operatorname{Aut}(K/F)\ni\sigma \neq id$, denote $K^\sigma$ the the fixed field of $\sigma$ and we have
$$p = |K:F| = |K:K^\sigma||K^\sigma:F|$$
because $p$ is prime and $\sigma \neq\operatorname{id}$, we see that $K^\sigma = F$, so indeed $F$ is the fixed field for each non identity element in $\operatorname{Aut}(K/F)$, and we have $K$ over $F$ is Galois (this last part is a standard result, but non trivial).

Is this correct?
It seems too simple to be true for me… and I didn't even have any assumptions for $\operatorname{char}(F)$.

There are discussions about this here, it seems to be complicated.

Best Answer

If you used a non-trivial result, then it isn't "too simple to be true"; it's non-trivial.

Pick $\sigma \in \operatorname{Aut}(K/F) \setminus \{\operatorname{id}\}$, so $\sigma(\alpha) \ne \alpha$ for some $\alpha \in K$. Then, $\alpha \in K \setminus F$, and the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$ has degree $p$, and $K = F(\alpha)$.

Let $n$ be the smallest positive integer such that $\sigma^n(\alpha) = \alpha$. Then, $(X-\alpha) (X - \sigma(\alpha)) \cdots (X - \sigma^{n-1}(\alpha))$ is a polynomial that is fixed by $\sigma$, so it is a polynomial with coefficients in $F$. The minimal polynomial of $\alpha$ divides this polynomial, so $n \ge p$. By construction, $\{\alpha, \sigma(\alpha), \cdots, \sigma^{n-1}(\alpha)\}$ are distinct, and they are all conjugates of $\alpha$, so $n \le p$. Therefore we conclude that $n = p$.

And it follows that all conjugates of $\alpha$ are in $K$, so $K$ is the splitting field of the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$, so $K$ is a normal extension of $F$. Also, we found $p$ distinct conjugates of $\alpha$, so $\alpha$ is separable, so $K$ is a separable extension of $F$.

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