Jump sets in local fields (Q2062738)

Let \(p\) be a prime and let \(e\) be a positive integer. The shift function \(\rho_{e,p}:\mathbb{Z}_{\ge1} \rightarrow\mathbb{Z}_{\ge1}\) associated to \(e\) and \(p\) is defined by \(\rho_{e,p}(i)=\min\{i+e,pi\}\). Define \(T_{\rho_{e,p}}=\mathbb{Z}_{\ge1}\smallsetminus \rho_{e,p}(\mathbb{Z}_{\ge1})\). Then \(T_{\rho_{e,p}}\) is a finite set. Let \(e^*=\max(T_{\rho_{e,p}})+1=\lceil pe/(p-1)\rceil\). An extended jump set for the shift function \(\rho_{e,p}\) is a finite subset \(A\subset\mathbb{Z}_{\ge1}\) such that \(\rho_{e,p}(a)\le b\) for all \(a,b\in A\) with \(a<b\), and \(A\smallsetminus\rho_{e,p}(A)\subset T_{\rho_{e,p}}\cup\{e^*\}\). Let \(K\) be a local field of characteristic 0 with residue characteristic \(p\) and set \(e=v_K(p)\). \textit{H. Miki} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 328, 99--115 (1981; Zbl 0457.12005)] showed that for every finite cyclic totally ramified \(p\)-extension \(L/K\), the upper ramification jumps of \(L/K\) form an extended jump set for \(\rho_{e,p}\). He also characterized the extended jump sets which come from cyclic extensions of \(K\). This paper gives new proofs of these results, and builds on an idea from [loc. cit.] involving filtrations of the unit group of \(K\). Let \(\mathcal{O}_K\) be the ring of integers of \(K\), let \(\mathcal{P}_K\) be the maximal ideal of \(\mathcal{O}_K\), and let \(U_1(K)=1+\mathcal{P}_K\) be the group of 1-units of \(\mathcal{O}_K\). Then \(U_1(K)\) is a \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-module with a filtration by the submodules \(1+\mathcal{P}_K^i\) for \(i\ge1\). This paper associates to \(K\) a unique extended jump set which determines the isomorphism class of the filtered \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-module \(U_1(K)\). This leads to a characterization of the possibilities for the isomorphism class of \(U_1(K)\) as a filtered \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-module. Further results are obtained for some special choices of \(K\). Let \(\zeta_p\) be a primitive \(p\)th root of unity, and for \(f\ge1\) let \(\mathbb{Q}_{p^f}\) be the unramified extension of degree \(f\) of the \(p\)-adic field \(\mathbb{Q}_p\). Set \(E_f=\mathbb{Q}_{p^f}(\zeta_p)\), let \(e'\) be a positive integer, and let \(A\) be an extended jump set. This paper gives a formula for the probability that the jump set associated to \(K=E_f[X]/(g(X))\) is equal to \(A\) for a randomly chosen Eisenstein polynomial \(g(X)\) of degree \(e'\) over \(E_f\). Say that the extension \(K/E_f\) is strongly separable if \(v_K(\delta_{K/E_f})<v_K(p)\), where \(\delta_{K/E_f}\) is the different of the extension \(K/E_f\). Suppose \(K/E_f\) is strongly separable, let \(\pi_K\) be a uniformizer for \(K\), and let \(g(X)\) be the minimal polynomial for \(\pi_K\) over \(E_f\). This paper gives a method for computing the extended jump set associated to \(K\) in terms of the valuations of the coefficients of \(g(X)\). This provides an explicit method for determining the structure of \(U_1(K)\) as a filtered \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-module.