\(K\)-admissibility of wreath products of cyclic \(p\)-groups (Q1126368)

Let \(G\) and \(H\) be groups. Let \(H^G\) denote the product of \(|G |\) copies of \(H\) indexed by the element of \(G\). Let \(G\) act on \(H^G\) on the right by permuting factors according to \((H_{g_1})^{g_2} = H_{g_1g_2}\). The wreath product of \(H\) by \(G\) is the semidirect product of \(H^G\) by \(G\) with respect to this action. Let \(k\) be a field. A finite group \(G\) is said to be \(k\)-admissible if there is a Galois extension \(L/k\) such that \(\text{Gal} (L/k) \simeq G\) and \(L\) is a maximal subfield of a division ring having center \(k\). Let \(K\) be a number field and let \(\widetilde G\) be a wreath product of cyclic \(p\)-groups. The author shows that if \(p\) is odd, then \(\widetilde G\) is \(K\)-admissible if and only if \(\widetilde G\) is cyclic or \(p\) has at least two divisors in \(K\). If \(p=2\), the author obtains a similar partial result. The work relies on a determination of the Galois structure of the group of 1-units in certain local fields. The main theorem is used to prove the author's conjecture that a metacyclic group \(G\) is \(K\)-admissible if and only if it occurs as a Galois group over two completions of \(K\). The author also proves \(K\)-admissibility is inherited by metacyclic groups.