[Math] How are unramified extensions of number fields formed

algebraic-number-theoryramification

Every extension is formed by adjoining a root of a polynomial. E.g.:

  • Totally ramified = root of Eisenstein polynomial.

  • Unramified over a local field = root of cyclotomic polynomial.

  • What about unramified over a number field?

  • What about tamely ramified extensions?

I recall reading both of these in an algebraic number theory book, in the middle of chapter 2 or so, but I don't remember which one. šŸ™ I think Cassels or Frohlich was one of the authors.

Best Answer

There aren't too many unramified extensions of a number field. In fact, if $K$ is a number field and $K^{unr}$ is the maximal unramified extension of $K$, then $G(K^{unr}/K)\simeq Cl(K)$, where $Cl(K)$ is the ideal class group of $K$. So, for instance, there are no unramified extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$. The inverse of this map behaves like $(\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z})^{\times}\rightarrow G(\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)/\mathbb{Q})$, in that we send the equivalence class of a prime $[\mathfrak{p}]$ into the Frobenius of $\mathfrak{p}$. This means that a prime will split completely in $K^{unr}$ if and only if it is principle. It is possible to compute these fields, and sometimes it's easy.

If we're okay with some ramification, say ramification at all primes dividing the ideal $\mathfrak{m}$, then we can create the Ray Class Group of $\mathfrak{m}$, denoted $Cl_{\mathfrak{m}}(K)$ which is like the class group but it avoids the primes that divide $\mathfrak{m}$. We can then use a similar idea to create all extensions that are only ramified at primes dividing $\mathfrak{m}$. Ie, there is a field $K^{unr}_{\mathfrak{m}}$ that is the maximal field unramified at every prime not dividing $\mathfrak{m}$, we call this the Ray Class Field of $\mathfrak{m}$. If a prime power divides $\mathfrak{m}$, then we can control ramification at that prime.

There's a little more we can do. Sometimes a field can split over the real/complex numbers. We can control that by adding an additional, artificial term to $\mathfrak{m}$, making it a Modulus. We can then get Ray Class Fields of this modulus as well.

Class Field Theory then says that every single (abelian) field extension is a Ray Class Field of some modulus. That is good because we can compute ray class fields and categorize them. This paper gives a few algorithms that can compute these extensions.

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