Algebraic patching over complete domains (Q948882)

Let \(K(x)\) be the field of rational functions over the field \(K\) in the indeterminate \(x\). Is every finite group realizable as the Galois group of some extension of \(K(x)\)? Suppose that \(K\) is the field of quotients of an integral domain \(D\). Among other things, the existing literature gives an affirmative answer to this question in each of the following cases: (i) when \(D\) is complete at a maximal ideal, (ii) when \(K\) is complete with respect to a non-archimedean absolute value, (iii) when \(D\) is complete at a prime ideal. The first is proved by \textit{D. Harbater} [Galois Coverings of the Arithmetic Line. Number Theory, Semin. New York 1984/1985, Lect. Notes Math. 1240, 165--195 (1987; Zbl 0627.12015)] using formal geometry. The second is proved by \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Topics in Galois theory. Research Notes in Mathematics. 1. (Boston), MA etc.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers (1992; Zbl 0746.12001)] and \textit{Q. Liu} [Contemp. Math. 186, 261--265 (1995; Zbl 0834.12004)] using rigid analytic geometry, and later by \textit{D. Haran} and \textit{H. Völklein} [Isr. J. Math. 93, 9--27 (1996; Zbl 0869.12006)] using algebraic patching. The third is proved by \textit{T. R. Lefcourt} [Isr. J. Math. 114, 323--346 (1999; Zbl 0948.12002)] using formal algebraic geometry. In the paper under review, the technique of algebraic patching is generalized from complete fields to complete domains and this generalization is used to establish an affirmative answer to the aforementioned question in the case when \(D\) is complete with respect to a non-trivial absolute value.