A note on capitulation problem for number fields. I, II (Q916712)

Let \(F\) be a finite extension of a finite algebraic number field \(k\) and let \(C_ F\) and \(C_ k\) denote the ideal class groups of \(F\) and \(k\), respectively. If a subgroup \(A\) of \(C_ k\) vanishes under the natural homomorphism \(C_ k\to C_ F\), then \(A\) is said to capitulate in \(F\). The principal ideal theorem states that \(C_ k\) always capitulates in the Hilbert class field of \(k\). In the present papers the author gives simple examples of number fields \(k\) such that \(C_ k\) capitulates in a proper subfield of the Hilbert class field of \(k\). In fact the author proves the following: For each prime number \(p\geq 2\), there exist infinitely many finite algebraic number fields \(k\) such that the \(p\)-class group of \(k\) capitulates in a proper subfield of the Hilbert \(p\)-class field over \(k\). The first paper deals with the case \(p=2\) and proves that for certain prime numbers \(q_ 1,q_ 2,q_ 3\), a quadratic field \(k=\mathbb Q(\sqrt{q_ 1q_ 2q_ 3})\) satisfies the above condition. The proof is elementary. The second paper deals with the case \(p\geq 3\) and uses the theory of \(\mathbb Z_ p\)-extensions. Choose prime numbers \(q_ 1\) and \(q_ 2\) which satisfy certain conditions and let \(F\) be a certain cyclic field in which only \(q_ 1\) and \(q_ 2\) are ramified. Let \(Q=Q_ 0\subset Q_ 1\subset...\subset Q_ n\subset...\subset Q_{\infty}\) be the sequence of intermediate fields for the cyclotomic \(\mathbb Z_ p\)-extension \(Q_{\infty}\). For sufficiently large \(n\geq 0\), let \(k\) be a field such that \(Q_ n\subset k\subset FQ_{n+1}\), \([FQ_{n+1}:k]=p\), and \(k\neq Q_{n+1}, FQ_ n\). Then the author proves that \(FQ_{n+1}\) is a proper subfield of the Hilbert \(p\)-class field of \(k\) and the \(p\)-class group of \(k\) capitulates in \(FQ_{n+1}\).