Finite splitting fields of normal subgroups. (Q706348)

It is shown that if the field with \(p^k\) elements is a splitting field of the finite group \(G\), then the field with \(p^{kn}\) elements splits the normal subgroup \(N\triangleleft G\), where \(n=\exp(G/N)\). This follows from studying the action of the Galois group of the corresponding field extension on the irreducible representations of \(N\). As a corollary, \(\mathbb{F}_{p^2}\) splits the alternating group \(A_n\).