Schmid's formula for higher local fields (Q2211020)

Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic \(p>0\) and let \(K=F((T))\) be the field of formal Laurent series in one variable over \(F\). Let \(n\ge1\) and let \(W_n(K)\) be the ring of Witt vectors of length \(n\) over \(K\). Let \(L/K\) be a cyclic extension of degree \(p^i\) for some \(i\le n\). Then there is \(\beta=(\beta_0,\ldots,\beta_{n-1})\in W_n(K)\) such that \(L\) is generated over \(K\) by the coordinates of any solution \(\alpha=(\alpha_0,\ldots,\alpha_{n-1})\) of the Artin-Schreier-Witt equation \[(x_0^p,x_1^p,\ldots,x_{n-1}^p)-(x_0,x_1,\ldots,x_{n-1}) =(\beta_0,\beta_1,\ldots,\beta_{n-1}).\] In the case where \(F\) is a finite field, local class field theory gives a homomorphism \(\omega_{L/K}:K^{\times}\rightarrow\text{Gal}(L/K)\). This leads to the Schmidt-Witt symbol, which is a pairing from \(W_n(K)\times K^{\times}\) into \(\mathbb{Z}/p^n\mathbb{Z}\subset W_n(K)\) given by the Witt vector formula \([\beta,y)_n=\omega_{L/K}(y)(\alpha)-\alpha\); here \(\alpha\) is any solution to the Artin-Schreier-Witt equation associated to \(\beta\). Explicit formulas for computing \([\beta,y)_n\) have been given by [\textit{E. Witt}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 176, 126--140 (1936; JFM 62.1112.03)], and more recently by [\textit{M. Kosters} and \textit{D. Wan}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 146, No. 4, 1481--1494 (2018; Zbl 1428.11198)]. In this paper the author considers the case where \(F=k((S))\) is the field of formal Laurent series in one variable over a finite field \(k\) of characteristic \(p\). In this case \(K=k((S))((T))\) is a two-dimensional local field of characteristic \(p\). Using the higher local class field theory of Parshin and Kato, one obtains a Schmidt-Witt symbol for \(K\). This paper gives an explicit formula for computing the Schmidt-Witt symbol in this setting, thus extending the work of Witt [loc. cit.] and Kosters/Wan [loc. cit.]. As an application, the author computes the upper ramification groups of the maximum abelian pro-\(p\) extension of \(K\).