Abelian \(p\)-groups of type \((p,\dots,p)\) and \(p\)-adic open discs (Q1293758)

This paper, which builds on earlier joint work by the author and the reviewer [Compos. Math. 113, 237-272 (1998; Zbl 0923.14006), J. Am. Math. Soc. 12, 269-303 (1999; Zbl 0923.14007)], is concerned with the following question: Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(p>0,\) \(W(k)\) its ring of Witt vectors and \(R\) a complete discrete valuation ring dominating \(W(k).\) Then for which finite subgroups \(G\subset\Aut_k(k[ [z] ])\) is it possible to lift \(G\) to \(\Aut_R(R[ [Z] ])?\) Due to a local-global-principle, whereby liftings of the inertia groups acting on the completions of the local rings at the points of a smooth Galois cover of curves over \(k\) to smooth Galois covers of the \(p\)-adic open disc over \(R,\) ensures a global lifting to a Galois covering of smooth relative curves over \(R,\) this question is of central importance to the arithmetic and geometry of curves over a \(p\)-adic field. The most important conjecture in this regard is the Oort Conjecture [see \textit{F. Oort}, Algebraic Geometry, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 46, 165-195 (1987; Zbl 0645.14017)], which claims that the lifting problem can be solved whenever the group for the cover is cyclic. Here the only problem is caused by the \(p\)-part of the respective inertia groups and the conjecture has been proved when these are \(p\) or \(p^2\) cyclic groups. When considering the abstract group \(G=(\mathbb Z/p\mathbb Z)^2\), there are realisations \(G\subset \Aut_k(k[ [z] ])\) which cannot be lifted for any \(R\) as above (see for example the author (loc. cit. Zbl 0923.14006) and the paper by \textit{J. Bertin} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 326, 55-58 (1998; Zbl 0952.14018)]). Motivated by the above, in this interesting paper the author introduces the following: Inverse Galois Problem: If we let \(G\) be a \(p\)-group, is it possible to find a realisation \(G\subset \Aut_k(k[ [z] ]),\) which can be lifted to \(G\subset \Aut_R(R[ [Z] ])\) for some complete discrete valuation ring \(R\) dominating \(W(k)?\) This question has been answered positively for cyclic groups by using Lubin-Tate formal groups (see the author (loc. cit. Zbl 0923.14007)). In this paper the author answers the question positively for elementary \(p\)-groups. The proof is based on a construction of \(p\)-cyclic covers of \(\mathbb P^1,\) with good reduction and special geometry of the branch locus; namely an equidistant geometry which lies above an \(n\)-dimensional \(\mathbb F_p\)-vector space in \(\mathbb P^1_k.\) For general \(p\)-groups the author proves the following related result, asserting that each finite \(p\)-group does occur as a subgroup of \(\Aut_R(R[ [Z] ]),\) which maps to the identity in \(\Aut_k(k[ [z] ])\) for suitable \(R\).