[Math] Galois group and intermediate fields for splitting field of $ x^3 -7 $

abstract-algebrafield-theorygalois-theory

I'm trying to do the following exercise:

find the Galois group $ G(E/\mathbb{Q}) $, where $ E $ is the splitting field of $ x^3 – 7 $, all its subgroups and the intermediate subfields $ E^H $ (subfields of $ E $ which are fixed by $ H \subset G $).

Of course $ E = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{7}, \varepsilon_3)$, where $ \varepsilon_3 $ denotes the primitive root of unity of degree $ 3 $

The degree of this extension is $ 6 $ and I am able to find two automorphisms of $ E/\mathbb{Q} $ which do not commute, hence $ G \simeq S_3 $, since there are only two groups of order $6 $.

I know the subgroup structure of $ S_3 $ – all its proper subgroups are cyclic.

Is there a more elegant way to find all the intermediate subfields other than just checking which elements are fixed by every automorphism?

I'd appreciate some help with that.

Best Answer

You know that $x^{3}-7$ is irreducible over $\mathbf{Q}$ so the Galois group acts transitively on the set of roots, so $\mathbf{Q}(\sqrt[3]{7})$,$\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_{3}\sqrt[3]{7})$, $\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_{3}^{2}\sqrt[3]{7})$ are subfields of degree 3. And you know that these correspond to the subgroups of order 2 of $S_{3}$, and $S_{3}$ has exactly three such subgroups. Now $\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_{3})$ is a subfield of degree 2, and hence corresponds to a subgroup of order 3 in $S_{3}$, and $S_{3}$ has a unique such subgroup.