Fields of moduli of three-point \(G\)-covers with cyclic \(p\)-Sylow. I (Q1932495)

This paper studies the field of moduli of certain three-point \(G\)-covers of the Riemann sphere. Call a finite group \textit{\(p\)-solvable} if its only simple composition factors of order divisible by \(p\) are cyclic of order \(p\). Suppose that \(G\) is \(p\)-solvable with cyclic \(p\)-Sylow subgroup of order \(p^n\). If \(f:Y\rightarrow X\) is a \(G\)-Galois cover of the Riemann sphere branched at three points, let \(K|\mathbb{Q}\) be the field of moduli of \(f\). Then the main result (Theorem 1.3) states that the \(n\)th higher ramification group above \(p\) for the upper numbering of the Galois closure of \(K|\mathbb{Q}\) vanishes. This result is a generalization to \(n\geq 2\) of results of \textit{S. Wewers} (\(n=1\)) [J. Am. Math. Soc. 16, No. 4, 991--1032 (2003; Zbl 1062.14038)] and \textit{S. Beckmann} (\(n=0\)) [J. Algebra 125, No. 1, 236--255 (1989; Zbl 0698.14024)]. Appendix B of the paper investigates the groups that are excluded by the hypothesis of \(p\)-solvability in Theorem 1.3. The proof proceeds by a careful analysis of the stable reduction of the cover \(f\) to characteristic \(p\), drawing on results from the author's previous paper [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2012, No. 2, 299--338 (2012; Zbl 1328.14053)]. Moreover, the author is able to reduce to a local problem with \(G\) isomorphic to \(\mathbb{Z}/p^n\rtimes\mathbb{Z}/m\).