On the essential dimension of cyclic \(p\)-groups (Q2471789): Difference between revisions

Let \(K\) be a field and \(p\) be a prime number invertible in \(K\). Suppose that the set of integers \(t\) such that \(K\) contains all \(p^t\)-th roots of unity is bounded from above and the maximal number \(s\) in this set is positive. Assume additionally that \(K(\root8\of1)\neq K(\root4\of1)\) if \(p=2\) and \(s=1\). The main theorem of the paper states that for any \(r>s\) the essential dimension \(\text{ed}_K(\mathbb Z/p^r\mathbb Z)\) of \(\mathbb Z/p^r\mathbb Z\) over \(K\) equals \(p^{r-s}\). In particular, \(\text{ed}_{\mathbb Q}(\mathbb Z/2^r\mathbb Z)=2^{r-1}\) (which proves a conjecture of Buhler and Reichstein that \(\text{ed}_{\mathbb Q}(\mathbb Z/8\mathbb Z)=4\)) and \(\text{ed}_{\mathbb Q}(\mathbb Z/3^r\mathbb Z)=3^{r-1}\) (which is based on the theorem together with an estimate \(\text{ed}_{\mathbb Q}(\mathbb Z/p^r\mathbb Z)=\phi(p-1)p^{r-1}\) due to \textit{A. Ledet} [Can. Math. Bull. 45, No. 3, 422--427 (2002; Zbl 1024.12004)]. The crucial tools in the proof of the main theorem are: a result of \textit{N. A. Karpenko} [J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 15, No. 1, 1--22 (2000; Zbl 0962.16015)] stating that \(K\)-rational endomorphisms of the Severi--Brauer variety \(SB(A)\) of a central simple algebra \(A/K\) of index \(p^n\) (\(n>0\)) are necessarily dominant, and a certain generalization of the construction, due to \textit{R. Brauer} [Tôhoku Math. J. 37, 77--87 (1933; Zbl 0007.39501)] and \textit{L. H. Rowen} [Ring Theory. II. (1988; Zbl 0651.16002)] of ``generic'' division algebras.