Noether's problem for groups of order 32 (Q958068)

Let \(K\) be a field and let \(G\) be a finite group that acts as a group of \(K\)-automorphisms on the rational function field \(L = K(x_g : g \in G)\) by \(g.x_h = x_{gh}\). Noether's problem asks whether the fixed subfield \(K(G)\) of \(L\) is rational (= purely transcendental) over \(K\). A survey of this problem is given by \textit{R.~G.~Swan} [in: Emmy Noether in Bryn Mawr, Proc. Symp., Bryn Mawr/USA 1982, 21--40 (1983; Zbl 0538.12012)]. In the paper under review, the authors prove that if \(G\) is of order 32 and exponent \(e\) and if char \(K\) =2 or \(K\) contains a primitive \(e\)-th root of unity, then \(K(G)\) is rational over \(K\). This bridges the gap between two previous results established by \textit{F.~A.~Bogomolov} [Math. USSR Izv. 30, 455--485 (1988; Zbl 0679.14025)] and by \textit{H.~Chu} and \textit{M.-C.~Kang} [J. Algebra 237, 673--690 (2001; Zbl 0023.13007)]. In the first, it is proved that for every prime \(p\) there is a group \(G\) of order \(p^6\) for which \(\mathbb{C}(G)\) is not rational over \(\mathbb{C}\). In the second, it is proved that If \(G\) is a group of order \(\leq p^4\) (\(p\) a prime) and exponent \(e\) and if char \(K\) = \(p\) or \(K\) contains a primitive \(p\)-th root of unity then \(K(G)\) is rational over \(K\).