The gap between the Schur group and the subgroup generated by cyclic cyclotomic algebras. (Q980510)

Let \(K\) be an Abelian extension of \(\mathbb{Q}\). Classical results state that every element of the Brauer group \(\text{Br}(K)\) is represented by a cyclic algebra, and every element of the Schur subgroup \(\text{S}(K)\) is represented by a cyclotomic algebra. A natural question to ask is whether every element of the Schur group is represented by an algebra that is cyclic and cyclotomic. The subgroup of \(\text{S}(K)\) generated by such elements is denoted by \(\text{CC}(K)\). It is shown that \(\text{CC}(\mathbb{Q})=\text{S}(\mathbb{Q})\) (Example 3.1); in general, the inclusion \(\text{CC}(K)\subset\text{S}(K)\) is strict, examples are given in Section 3. It is studied when \(\text{CC}(K)\) has finite index in \(\text{S}(K)\), a question that can easily be reduced to the \(p\)-primary components of both groups. Equivalent characterizations of this property are the main results of this paper.