Noether's problem for dihedral 2-groups. II (Q2497100)

Let \(K\) be any field and \(G\) be a finite group. Let \(G\) act on the rational function field \(K(x_g: g\in G)\) by \(g\cdot x_h = x_{gh}\) for any \(g,h\in G\) and let \(K(G):= K(x_g: g\in G)^G\) be the fixed field. Noether's problem asks whether \(K(G)\) is rational over \(K\). It is well-known that if this is true then there exists a generic Galois \(G\)-extension over \(K\). In the paper under review the author completes the examination of cases of groups of order 16 [the abelian cases were known and some nonabelian cases were already studied by \textit{H. Chu, S. Hu} and \textit{M. Kang}, Comment. Math. Helv. 79, No. 1, 147--159 (2004; Zbl 1069.12003)], proving that the answer to Noether's problem is positive for all groups of order 16 except the generalized quaternion group. Regarding this exception, the author proves that the answer is still positive provided that \(K(\zeta_8)/K\) is cyclic (where \(\zeta_8\) is a primitive 8th root of unity), while a result of Serre shows that the answer is negative if \(K={\mathbb Q}\).