The \(K\)-admissibility of \(2A_ 6\) and \(2A_ 7\) (Q689849)

Let \(K\) be a field and \(G\) be a finite group. \(G\) is \(K\)-admissible if there exists a Galois extension \(L\) of \(K\) with Galois group \(G\) such that \(L\) is a maximal subfield of a central \(K\)-division algebra. Let \(Q_{16}\) be the quaternion group of order 16, let \(2A_ 6 \simeq \text{SL} (2,9)\) be the double cover of the alternating group \(A_ 6\) and let \(2A_ 7\) be the double cover of the alternating group \(A_ 7\). In this paper the \(K\)-admissibility of \(Q_{16}\), \(2A_ 6\) and \(2A_ 7\) is studied. The main result states that the class of number fields \(K\) satisfying that either \(i\) and \(\sqrt{-1}\) are both not in \(K\) or \(K\) has at least 2 places over the prime 2, is the class of number fields \(K\) such that each of these groups is \(K\)-admissible. In particular, the groups \(Q_{16}\), \(2A_ 6\) and \(2A_ 7\) are \(\mathbb{Q}\)-admissible. The proof of this characterization uses \textit{M. Schacher}'s criterion [J. Algebra 9, 451-477 (1968; Zbl 0174.341)] on \(K\)-admissibility, \textit{J. F. Mestre}'s results [J. Algebra 131, 483-495 (1990; Zbl 0714.11074)] to construct suitable polynomials and \textit{J. P. Serre}'s theorem [Comment. Math. Helv. 59, 651-676 (1984; Zbl 0565.12014)] to compute obstructions to associated embedding problems.