On the class group problem for function fields (Q1267302)

Given a finite abelian group \(G\), does there exist a number field \(K\) whose ideal class group is isomorphic to \(G\)? The general answer to this question is unknown. Every finite abelian group is isomorphic to a factor group of the ideal class group of some number field. Further, if \(\ell\) is a prime number and \(G\) is a finite abelian \(\ell\)-group, \(G\) is isomorphic to the Sylow subgroup of the ideal class group of some number field. This result was proved by \textit{O. Yahagi} [Tokyo J. Math. 1, 275-283 (1978; Zbl 0403.12011)]. For the function field case the answer is negative. \textit{H. Stichtenoth} [Arch. Math. 32, 336-340 (1979; Zbl 0404.12011)] proved that if \(G\) is a finite abelian group of exponent \(E\) and order \(h\) such that \(E \geq 2\) and \(h \geq E ^{c E ^4}\) with \(c = 2 (48 e ^{-1}) ^4\), then \(G\) is not isomorphic to the group of divisor classes of a global function field. In the paper under review the author considers the group of ideal classes instead of the group of divisor classes and obtains similar answers for congruence function fields to those obtained for number fields. Here the following problem is called ``the class group problem for function fields'': For \(G\) a finite abelian group, does there exist a finite separable extension \(K/ {\mathbb{F}} _q (T)\) whose constant field is \({\mathbb{F}} _q\), such that \(G\) is isomorphic to the ideal class group of the integral closure of \({\mathbb{F}}_q [T]\) in \(K\)? If \(G\) is cyclic, the class group problem has a positive answer. In general, given any finite abelian group \(G\), it is proved that there exist infinitely many geometric cyclic extensions \(K/{\mathbb{F}} _q (T)\) such that \(G\) is isomorphic to a subgroup of the ideal class group of \(K\), and if the order of \(G\) is prime to the characteristic, then there exist infinitely many Carlitz-Hayes cyclotomic function fields \(k(N), k = {\mathbb{F}} _q (T)\), such that \(G\) is isomorphic to a subgroup of \(C _{k(N)}\), the ideal class group of \(k(N)\). Finally, if \(G\) is a finite \(\ell\)-group then the author shows that there exist infinitely many geometric cyclic \(\ell\)-extensions \(K/{\mathbb{F}} _q (T)\) such that \(G\) is isomorphic to the \(\ell\)-Sylow subgroup of \(C _K\). The main tools used in the paper are the theory of Carlitz-Hayes cyclotomic function fields, genus field theory for function fields, Dirichlet characters and Hilbert class fields.