Explicit solutions of Galois embedding problems by means of generalized Clifford algebras (Q5927996)

The author studies Galois embedding problems with cyclic kernel, given by central extensions of groups. Let \(n\geq 2\) be an integer and \(K\) be a field of characteristic not dividing \(n\), containing the group \(\mu_n\) of \(n\)th roots of unity. Let \(L/K\) be a finite Galois extension with group \(\Gamma:= \text{Gal}(L/K)\). The author considers the embedding problems defined by \(L/K\) and a cohomology class \(\varepsilon\in H^2(\Gamma, \mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z})\), \(\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}\) being a trivial \(\Gamma\)-module. To such a given problem, she associates a representation in the group of graded automorphisms of an adequate generalized Clifford algebra, and gives a new expression for the obstruction to the solvability of the embedding problem in terms of Galois symbols which allows its computation. Generalizing results by \textit{T. Crespo} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 409, 180-189 (1990; Zbl 0696.12020)], she provides a method for constructing the solutions of the solvable problems. This work is a part of the doctoral thesis of the author at the University of Barcelona; thus many points of the paper refer to this thesis. Reviewer's remark: In [J. Algebra 109, 508-535 (1987; Zbl 0625.12011)], the reviewer has given formulas to construct, for any prime \(p\), the fields \(M\) of degree \(p\) over \(L\) such that \(M/K\) is a Galois extension, where \(L/K\) is an elementary Abelian \(p\)-extension of fields containing \(\mu_p\). However, the method can be extended to more general situations. We give below, in a few lines, the formula for the situation of section 10 in the paper under review. The question is: with \(L= L(a^{1/n})\) a degree \(n\) cyclic extension, what are the fields \(M\supseteq L\) for which \(M/K\) is a degree \(n^2\) cyclic extension? (1) There exists a field \(M\supseteq L\) such that \(M/K\) is a degree \(n^2\) cyclic extension if and only if there exists an element \(\xi\in L\) with norm over \(K: N_{L/K}(\xi)= \omega\) a primitive \(n\)th root of unity (Theorem 7.1 of Vela). (2) In this case, we have \(M= L(x^{1/n})\) for the product \[ x= r\prod^{n-1}_{i=1} \sigma^i(\xi^i), \] where \(r\) is some fixed element in \(K^\times\) and \(\sigma\) the generator of \(\text{Gal}(L,K)\) such that \[ \sigma(a^{1/n})/a^{1/n}= \omega. \] In contrast with the long sums of Vela for \(M= L(\gamma^{1/n})\), this primitive element is expressed in a multiplicative form which allows us to simplify easily by the \(n\)th powers. It would be interesting to compare the usual additive primitive elements from Witt to Crespo-Vela with the multiplicative ones as above. Clearly, by Kummer theory, there exist \(\lambda\in L\) and a unit \(i\in \mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}\) such that \(\gamma= \lambda^n x^i\). But, in the opinion of the reviewer, this level of understanding is not satisfying.