Crossed products over algebraic function fields (Q1346100)

For every finite group \(G\), an integer \(m(G)\) is defined as the maximum over all primes \(p\) dividing the order of \(G\) of the minimal lengths of chains \(\{1 \}= P_0 \varsubsetneq P_1 \varsubsetneq \dots \varsubsetneq P_r =P\) where \(P\) is a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\) and \(P_{i-1}\) is a normal subgroup in \(P_i\) such that \(P_i/ P_{i- 1}\) is cyclic for \(i=1, \dots, r\). The main theorem of this nicely written paper is the following insightful generalization of several results on the existence of crossed product division algebras with prescribed groups: suppose \(K\) is a finite separable extension of a rational function field \(K_0 (x_1, \dots, x_n)\) in \(n\) indeterminates \((n\geq 0)\) and let \(E/K\) be a Galois extension with Galois group \(G\). There exists a division algebra with center \(K\) containing \(E\) as a maximal subfield if one of the following conditions holds: (1) \(n\geq m(G) +1\); (2) \(K_0\) is hilbertian and \(n\geq m(G)\); (3) \(K_0\) is a global field and \(n\geq m(G)-1\). Examples show that the bounds in (1) and (3) are sharp.