[Math] about Kummer Theory

nt.number-theory

In Kummer Theory, we always need the assumption that $a\not\in K^{\times n}$. For the local case, we can use the structure theorem of $K^{\times}$ to check this assumption. But in general, how can we check this condition?

For example, how to check $p\not\in K^{\times p}$, where $K=\mathbb{Q}(\mu_{p^\infty})$ the rational number adjoining all the pth power roots of unity.

Best Answer

In

http://projecteuclid.org/DPubS?service=UI&version=1.0&verb=Display&handle=euclid.jmsj/1261734945

Chevalley shows the following related statement (Remarque p. 39): let $p$ be a prime, $K$ a field of characteristic different from $p$, and $\zeta$ a $p^e$-th primitive root of $1$ in some algebraic extension of $K$, where $e\geq 1$ is any integer. Assume moreover that $-1$ is a square in $K$ if $p=2$. Then if an element $x\in K(\zeta)$ is a $p^e$-th power, then it is already a $p^e$-th power in $K$.