On some properties of Galois groups of unramified extensions (Q294157)

For \( k \) an algebraic number field of finite degree, let \( k_{\infty} \) be the maximal cyclotomic extension of \( k, \) that is, the field obtained by adjoining to \( k \) all \( \zeta_n,~n\geq 1. \) Let \( \tilde{L}_k \) and \( L_k \) be the maximal unramified Galois extension, respectively the maximal unramified abelian extension of \( k_{\infty}. \) The author studies the Galois groups \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}), \) \( \mathrm{Gal}(L_k/k_{\infty}) \) and \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k). \) More precisely, the author proves that every subgroup of \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}) \) with finite index is centerfree. Note that the Galois group \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}) \) may be regarded as an analogue of the algebraic fundamental group of a proper smooth geometrically connected curve over the algebraic closure of a finite field. Indeed, with some exceptions (cf. e.g. \textit{A. Tamagawa} [Compos. Math. 109, No. 2, 135--194 (1997; Zbl 0899.14007)]), the same property is satisfied by the algebraic fundamental group of a smooth geometrically connected curve over an algebraically closed constant field. Next, the author considers the Galois groups \(\Gamma= \mathrm{Gal}(k_{\infty}/k) \) and \( X=\mathrm{Gal}(L_k/k_{\infty}). \) Then \( \Gamma \) acts naturally on \( X, \) which makes \( X \) a \( \Gamma \)-module. As a profinite abelian group, \( X \) is isomorphic to the direct product of a countable number of copies of \( \widehat{\mathbb{Z}}, \) the profinite completion of \( \mathbb Z. \) The structure of \( X \) as a \( \Gamma \)-module is, however, not so well understood. (Partial related results were obtained by the author [Tohoku Math. J. (2) 60, No. 1, 135--147 (2007; Zbl 1227.11115)]; also, the above result follows from \textit{K. Uchida} [Tohoku Math. J., II. Ser. 34, 311--317 (1982; Zbl 0502.12020)].) The author proves that \( X \) is a faithful \( \Gamma \)-module. It will follow from here also that every subgroup of \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k) \) with finite index is centerfree. Finally, the author investigates the inverse Galois problem on \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}). \) The maximal prosolvable quotient of \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}) \) was determined by \textit{K. Uchida} [Proc. Symp., Nagoya/Jap. 1981, Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 2, 99--102 (1983; Zbl 0524.12014)], but not too much seems to be known for its non-solvable quotients. In previous work [J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 32, 397--415 (1985; Zbl 0593.12004)]), when \( k=\mathbb Q, \) the author showed that there exist finitely many unramified Galois extensions of \( \mathbb{Q}_{\infty} \) having as Galois group the finite non-solvable group \( \mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb Z/p^r\mathbb{Z})=\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb Z/p^r\mathbb{Z})/\{\pm 1\}, \) where \(p \) is any prime greater than 3 and \( r \) a positive integer. In this paper, the result is strengthened to the following. Theorem. Let \( p\geq 5 \) be prime. Then there exists an unramified Galois extension \( F \) of \( \mathbb Q_{\infty} \) such that \( \mathrm{Gal}(F/\mathbb Q_{\infty}) \) is isomorphic to \( \prod_{N=1}^{\infty}\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb Z_p), \) the direct product of a countable number of copies of \( \mathrm{SL}_2 (\mathbb Z_p).\) It is worth mentioning that the proof of the above result consists in an arithmetical and a group-theoretical part. The arithmetical point is that the Galois group \( \mathrm{Gal}(\tilde{L}_k/k_{\infty}) \) is projective (also due to \textit{K. Uchida} [Tohoku Math. J., II. Ser. 34, 311--317 (1982; Zbl 0502.12020)]), while the group-theoretical part deals with some properties of the group \(\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb Z_p)\) due to \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Research Notes in Mathematics. 7. Wellesley, MA: A K Peters (1998; Zbl 0902.14016); Invent. Math. 15, 259--331 (1972; Zbl 0235.14012)].