Galois module structure of Milnor \(K\)-theory in characteristic \(p\) (Q935605)

Let \(E\) be a cyclic extension of degree \(p^n\) of a field \(F\) of characteristic \(p \not= 0,\) and let \(G = \text{Gal} (E/F)\). Building on two results of Izhboldin (1987, 1991), the authors determine the \({\mathbb F}_p[G]\)-module structure of the groups \(k_m E\) (= Milnor groups \(K_m E\bmod p).\) Let us recall Izhboldin's results : {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] If \(G\) is of order \(p,\) then \(k_m F@>\sim>> (k_m E)^G\). \item[(ii)] If \(G = \langle \sigma \rangle,\) then the sequence \(K_m E @>{1-\sigma}>>K_m E @>{N_{E/F}}>>K_m F\) is exact. \end{itemize}} Here the authors show that the \(k_m E\)'s are direct sums (not canonically) of trivial modules and modules which are free over some quotients of \(G\); the ranks of these free summands are invariants of the modules \(k_m E\). In an appendix, a simple alternate proof of the main result when \(G\) is of order \(p\) (due to the referee) is given.