HT90 and ``simplest'' number fields (Q358946)

Let \(L/k\) be a cyclic extension of degree \(n\) with Galois group \(\langle\sigma\rangle\). Hilbert's Theorem 90 characterizes elements of norm \(1: N_{L/K}(\beta)= 1\) if and only if there exists \(\alpha\in L\) such that \(\beta= \alpha/\sigma(\alpha)\). The usual proof uses the formula \[ \alpha= \theta+ \sigma(\theta)\beta+ \sigma^2(\theta)\beta\sigma(\beta)+\cdots+ \sigma^{n-1}(\theta) \beta\sigma(\beta)\cdots \sigma^{n-2}(\beta). \] If \(N_{L/K}(\beta)= 1\), this formula makes \(\beta= \alpha/\sigma(\alpha)\) a formal identity, but we need Artin's theorem on characters to prove that \(\alpha\neq 0\) for some \(\theta\in L\). Instead of this, the author imposes here ``the Murphy condition (M)'' that taking \(\theta=1\) makes \(\alpha= 0\): \[ 1+ r+ r\sigma(r)+\cdots+ r\sigma^{n-1}(r)\cdots\sigma^{n-2}= 0;\tag{M} \] then \(N_{L/k}= 1\). He proves that for \(n\geq 3\), there is a primitive element \(r\) of \(L\) over \(k\) for which (M) holds. Unfortunately, (M) alone does not force cyclic extensions. When \(n= 3\), (M) leads to a defining polynomial of the form \[ P(X)= X^3- AX^2- (A+3) X-1 \] for some \(A\in k\). \textit{D. Shanks} called the fields defined by a \(P(X)\) with \(A\in\mathbb Z\) the ``simplest'' cubic fields [Math. Comput. 28, 1137--1152 (1974; Zbl 0307.12005)]. Certain families of cyclic number fields of degrees 4, 5 and 6 have subsequently been dubbed ``simplest''. They also have defining polynomials whose zeros are units satisfying (M). Further investigation of (M) for \(n=4\) leads to an elementary algebraic construction of a 2-parameter family of octic polynomials with ``generic'' Galois group \({_3T_{11}}\). Imposing an additional algebraic condition on these octics, the author produces a new family of cyclic quartic extensions. This family includes the ``simplest'' quartic fields and Washington's cyclic quartic fields as special cases.