Representations modulo \(p\) associated with \(p\)-adic field extensions (Q690219)

A characterization of Galois extensions of \(p\)-adic fields in terms of associated representations is given. Let \(K\) be a \(p\)-adic field with ring of integers \({\mathcal O}\), and let \(E/K\) be a finite Galois extension of \(p\)-adic fields. Also, let \(K_ \infty /K\) be the totally ramified \(\mathbb{Z}_ p\)-extension with \(K_ m\) the fixed field of \(K_ \infty\) under \(p^ m \mathbb{Z}_ p\). Write \({\mathcal O}_ m\) for the ring of integers of \(K_ m\) and let \(\Gamma_ m:= \text{Gal} (K_ m/ K)\). One defines a semi-linear \({\mathcal O}_ m\)-representation \({\mathcal O} (E_{\otimes m})\) of \(\Gamma_ m\). One may also consider the semi-linear \({\mathcal O}_ m/ p^ r\)-representation \({\mathcal O} (E_{\otimes m})/ p^ r\) of \(\Gamma_ m\), where \(r=2\) if \(p=2\) and \(r=1\) if \(p\neq 2\). With these notations, the following theorem is proved: Assume that \(K\) has algebraically closed residue field. Then two finite Galois extensions \(E/K\) and \(E^ \prime/ K\) are isomorphic if and only if for some \(m\) large enough (depending only on \(K\) and the degrees of \(E/K\) and \(E^ \prime/ K\)) the semi-linear \({\mathcal O}_ m/ p^ r\)- representations of \(\Gamma_ m\), \({\mathcal O} (E_{\otimes m})/ p^ r\) and \({\mathcal O} (E^ \prime_{\otimes m})/ p^ r\), are isomorphic. Combined with the author's previous work [Acta Arith. 63, 267-286 (1993; Zbl 0777.11047)] one obtains an invariant \(\alpha_ m (E/K)\in H^ 1 (\Gamma_ m, \text{GL} (d,{\mathcal O}_ m/ p^ r))\), where \(d= [E:K]\), which completely determines \(E/K\). In fact, an explicit lower bound for \(m\) `large enough' can be given. In case the residue field of \(K\) is not algebraically closed one still has the following result: Let \(E/K\) and \(E^ \prime/ K\) be two finite Galois totally ramified extensions. Then \(EF = E'F\) for some finite unramified extension \(F/K\) iff the semi-linear \({\mathcal O}_ m /p^ r\)-representations \({\mathcal O} (E_{\otimes m})/ p^ r\) and \({\mathcal O} (E^ \prime_{\otimes m})/ p^ r\) and \(\Gamma_ m\) are isomorphic for some \(m\) large enough.