Hopf Galois theory for separable field extensions (Q1820822)

The concept of an extension \(S\supseteq R\) of commutative rings being an \(H\)-Galois extension for some Hopf \(R\)-algebra \(H\) has been available since the work of \textit{S. U. Chase} and \textit{M. E. Sweedler} [Hopf algebras and Galois theory. Lect. Notes Math. 97. Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag (1969; Zbl 0197.01403)], but the only substantial use of the concept in field theory prior to this paper has been in connection with purely inseparable extensions. This paper characterizes those separable (not necessarily normal) field extension \(L\supseteq K\) which are \(H\)-Galois for some Hopf \(K\)-algebra \(H\). The strategy is Galois descent: pass to the normal closure \(\tilde L\) of \(L/K\), then \(L/K\) is \(H\)-Galois for some \(H\) iff \(\tilde L\otimes_ K L\) is \(\tilde L[N]\)-Galois for some group \(N\) normalized by the Galois group \(G=\mathrm{Gal}(\tilde L/K)\); if so, \(H=\tilde L[N]^ G\). Among the results obtained are the following: any (not necessarily normal) cubic, quartic or radical extension is \(H\)-Galois for some \(H\). If \(\tilde L=L \otimes_ K E\) for some Galois extension \(E/K\), then \(L/K\) is \(H\)-Galois for some \(H\). A quintic extension \(L/K\) is \(H\)-Galois iff \(\mathrm{Gal}(\tilde L/K)\) has order \(\leq 20\). An intriguing aspect of the theory which is similar to the purely inseparable theory is that \(L/K\) may be \(H\)-Galois for more than one \(H\). The fundamental theorem of Galois theory for Hopf algebras [loc. cit., Theorem 7.6] gives for an \(H\)-Galois extension \(L/K\) a bijection between sub-Hopf algebras of \(H\) and certain subfields of \(L\) containing \(K\). The authors show that any (ordinary) Galois extension \(L/K\) with Galois group \(G\) may be given an \(H\)-Galois structure for some Hopf algebra \(H\) so that in the Galois correspondence, the intermediate fields which correspond to sub-Hopf algebras are precisely those which are normal over \(K\).