On central extensions of \(A_ n\) as Galois group over \({\mathbb{Q}}\) (Q2266736)

This paper contains a result which shows that every central extension of the alternating group \(A_ n\) occurs as a Galois group over \({\mathbb{Q}}\) for infinitely many n, and furthermore, that every central extension of \(A_ n\) occurs as a Galois group over \({\mathbb{Q}}(\sqrt{-1})\) if \(n\neq 6,7\). The author constructs new families of equations with Galois group \(A_ n\) over \({\mathbb{Q}}(T)\) and solves a central embedding problem for \(A_ n\cong Gal(K/{\mathbb{Q}}))\) by a recent method of Serre which connects the obstruction to the solvability of this embedding problem with the Hasse-Witt-invariant of the trace form of K/\({\mathbb{Q}}\) [see \textit{J.-P. Serre}, Comment. Math. Helv. 59, 651-676 (1984)].