A construction of covers of arithmetic schemes (Q863336)

Let \(X\) be an arithmetic scheme, i.e., an integral, separated scheme, which is flat and of finite type over \(\text{Spec}(\mathbb Z)\). In this paper the author introduces the notion of a covering problem for \(X\), whose solution (when exists) is given by an open normal subgroup \(N\trianglelefteq \pi_1(X)\) whose description is determined by the open normal subgroups \(N_C\trianglelefteq \pi_1(\tilde C)\), associated to the irreducible curves \(C\subseteq X\), with normalisation \(\tilde C\) and by the open normal subgroups \(N_x\trianglelefteq \pi_1(x)\), associated to the closed points \(x\in X\). The main result of the paper states that if \(X\) is a regular variety over a perfect field \(K\), where \(K\) is either a finite or Hilbertian or a PAC field such that all \(p\)-Sylow subgroups of the absolute Galois group \(G_K\) are infinite, for all primes \(p\), then every tame, bounded covering problem for \(X\) has a unique solution. A covering problem is bounded if the indices of all \(N_C\) and \(N_x\) are bounded. In the case of a variety, it is called tame if the \(N_C\) define covers of \(\tilde C\) which are tamely ramified outside \(\tilde C\). If \(X\) is proper over a curve, then the assumption on tameness may be dropped. In the case \(\text{char}(K)=0\), the assumption on tameness is void. The paper develops the framework and generalizes the results obtained by \textit{W. Hofmann} and \textit{G. Wiesend} [Math. Z. 250, No. 1, 203--224 (2005; Zbl 1080.14029)] for arithmetic surfaces. The higher dimensional case is also included and treated by using an induction procedure. The results obtained in this article seem to suggest that monodromy phenomena for an arithmetic scheme are supported on the ``1-skeleton'' of the scheme, namely on the collection of its curves and their incidence relations. The techniques developed may provide a tool for the study of higher-dimensional, non-abelian class field theory.