Noether's problem for some subgroups of \(S_{14}\): the modular case (Q2215798)

For any field \(k\), the subgroup \(G\) of the symmetric group \(\Sigma_n\) acts on the field of rational functions \(k(x_1,\dots,x_n)\) by permutation of variables. \textit{E. Noether} [Math. Ann. 78, 221--229 (1917; JFM 46.0135.01)] asked when the field of fixed points \(k(x_1,\dots,x_n)^G\) is rational, i.e. isomorphic as a \(k\)-algebra to a field of the form \(k(t_1,\dots, t_n)\). The motivation of this question came from Hilbert's Irreducibility Theorem, which allowed, over a number field \(K\), to use a positive solution of Noether's problem to find ``generic'' solutions of the inverse Galois problem for the group \(G\) over the field \(K\). It is interesting to note that Noether remarked that instead of a number field, the same conclusion also holds over a general ``Rationalitätsbereich,'' a term which was not defined in her paper. Today fields which satisfy Hilbert's Irreducibility Theorem are called {\em Hilbertian}, and are known to include all global fields (i.e. including the case of positive characteristic). While Noether's question is known to have a negative answer in general, because of the inverse Galois problem, positive solutions to Noether's problem, in any characteristic, continue to be of interest today. The paper under review proves that the Noether problem has a positive solution in characteristic \(7\) for transitive solvable subgroups of \(\Sigma_{14}\). This result follows up on a rich literature on rationality of subgroups of symmetric groups, for example [\textit{M.-c. Kang} and \textit{B. Wang}, J. Algebra 413, 345--363 (2014; Zbl 1298.13009); \textit{M.-C. Kang} et al., Kyoto J. Math. 55, No. 2, 257--279 (2015; Zbl 1401.13021); \textit{H. Kuniyoshi}, Tohoku Math. J. (2) 6, 101--108 (1954; Zbl 0058.26605); \textit{B. Wang} and \textit{G. Wang}, Commun. Algebra 48, No. 3, 917--929 (2020; Zbl 1470.13011); \textit{B. Wang} and \textit{J. Zhou}, J. Algebra 518, 272--303 (2019; Zbl 1428.12007)]. A substantial ingredient in the proof is the classification of transitive subgroups of \(\Sigma_{14}\), which was obtained in [\textit{G. A. Miller}, Quart. J. 29, 224--249 (1898; JFM 28.0125.03)]. There are \(63\) such subgroups, \(36\) of which are solvable. The authors consider them by certain types, for some of which they obtain stronger results (for example, without restricting to characteristic \(7\)). An important ingredient in the proof is a theorem of Kunioshi and Gaschütz stating that the Noether problem has a positive solution for a \(p\)-group \(G\) in characteristic \(p\).