In the paper A database of local fields, J. Jones and D. Roberts introduced an isomorphism $K \otimes \mathbb{Q}_p \cong \prod\limits_{i=1}^g K_{p,i}$, where $K$ is some finite dimensional extension of $\mathbb{Q}$ and $\{K_{p,i} \}$ is some collection of finite dimensional extensions of $\mathbb{Q}_p$.
The isomorphism is not mentioned again, and it is not clear why this is even an isomorphism of modules (over what ring?), algebras (over what ring?), abelian groups etc.
$K \otimes \mathbb{Q}_p$ is called an "associated $p$-adic algebra," perhaps suggesting that this tensor product may be interpreted not as a module over $\mathbb{Q}$ but as an algebra over $\mathbb{Q}_p$. But this doesn't make sense, since $K$ doesn't contain $\mathbb{Q}_p$ as a subfield.
I wanted to ask whether anyone can shed some light on this isomorphism-what it is an isomorphism of, how the isomorphism is given, how the fields $K_{p,i}$ are chosen etc., as well as the significance of these notions. From the introduction in the paper it only reads "for investigating some problems about number fields, it suffices to know just basic invariants of the $K_{p,i}$, such as ramification index and residual degree."
Any explanation of the above, or link to a reference in which the details are given, would be greatly appreciated.
Best Answer
Imagine that $K=\mathbb{Q}[\alpha]$ for some algebraic number $\alpha$. Let $m(x)$ be the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$. Then we know that $K\cong \mathbb{Q}[x]/\langle m(x)\rangle$. As $\mathbb{Q}_p$ is an extension field of the rationals, the polynomial $m(x)$ (irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}[x]$) may factor into a product of irreducible factors $$ m(x)=\prod_i m_i(x), $$ where $m_i(x)$ are irreducible polynomials in $\mathbb{Q}_p[x]$. Because $m(x)$ is separable, the polynomials $m_i(x)$ are distinct. Therefore the Chinese Remainder Theorem says that $$ \mathbb{Q}_p[x]/\langle m(x)\rangle\cong\bigoplus_i \mathbb{Q}_p[x]/\langle m_i(x)\rangle. $$ Here on the right hand side the summands $\mathbb{Q}_p[x]/\langle m_i(x)\rangle$ are all extension fields of $\mathbb{Q}_p$, because the polynomials $m_i(x)$ are irreducible. OTOH $$ \mathbb{Q}_p[x]/\langle m(x)\rangle\cong\mathbb{Q}[x]/\langle m(x)\rangle\otimes\mathbb{Q}_p\cong K\otimes\mathbb{Q}_p. $$ Undoubtedly you can guess the rest - the fields $\mathbb{Q}_p[x]/\langle m_i(x)\rangle$ are the fields $K_{p,i}$.