Question about the Galois correspondence

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Galois correspondence related to the polynomial ##x^4 - 2## over the field of rational numbers, ##\mathbb{Q}##. Participants explore the structure of the Galois group, the intermediate subfields, and the relationships between subgroups and fixed fields, engaging in both theoretical and technical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants identify the splitting field of ##x^4 - 2## as ##E=\mathbb{Q}(i,\sqrt[4]{2})##, noting it is a degree ##8## extension of ##\mathbb{Q}##.
  • Participants discuss how to derive the intermediate subfields corresponding to various Galois subgroups, particularly focusing on the subgroup ##N_1## and its fixed field generated by ##\sqrt{2}##.
  • There is a proposal that the subgroup ##N_4## is generated by ##i## and ##\sqrt{2}##, with some participants attempting to clarify how this conclusion is reached.
  • Some participants express uncertainty regarding the subgroup ##H_4## and its relation to the order of the element ##\xi\eta^3##.
  • There are corrections regarding the action of the element ##\eta##, with participants debating its mappings and the implications for the Galois group structure.
  • Participants explore the subgroup ##N_3##, discussing how its fixed field is generated by ##i\sqrt{2}## and the effects of the generators on the basis elements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the mappings of the elements in the Galois group and the structure of the corresponding subfields. While some points are clarified, multiple competing interpretations and calculations remain unresolved, particularly regarding the subgroup actions and their implications.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential typos in the definitions of the mappings for ##\eta## and the order of elements in the Galois group, which may affect the conclusions drawn about the fixed fields.

thaiqi
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question on Galois correspondence
Question: Galois group of ##x^4 - 2 ## over Q.The correspondence is:
$$
\begin{aligned}
(N_1) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(\sqrt{2})
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
(N_2) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(i)
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
(N_3) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(i\sqrt{2})
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
(N_4) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(\sqrt{2}, i)
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
(H_3) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(\sqrt[4]{2} (1+i))
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
(H_4) \leftarrow \rightarrow Q(\sqrt[4]{2} (1-i))
\end{aligned}
$$My question is : How are these intermediate subfields (on the right side of the arrows) obtained?(The eight subgroups are:)
$$
\begin{aligned}
(N_1) & = \left\{ 1,\xi, \eta^2 , \xi\eta^2 \right\} \\
(N_2) & = \left\{ 1, \eta , \eta^2 , \eta^3 \right\} \\
(N_3) & = \left\{ 1, \eta^2 , \xi\eta, \xi\eta^3 \right\} \\
(N_4) & = \left\{ 1, \eta^2 \right\} \\
(H_1) & = \left\{ 1,\xi \right\} \\
(H_2) & = \left\{ 1,\xi\eta^2 \right\} \\
(H_3) & = \left\{ 1,\xi\eta \right\} \\
(H_4) & = \left\{ 1,\xi\eta^3 \right\}
\end{aligned}
$$

in which:
$$
\begin{aligned}
\xi : \sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -\sqrt[4]{2} \\
i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow i\sqrt[4]{2} \\
-\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow \sqrt[4]{2} \\
-i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -i\sqrt[4]{2}
\end{aligned}
$$
$$
\begin{aligned}
\eta : \sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -i\sqrt[4]{2} \\
i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -\sqrt[4]{2} \\
-\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -i\sqrt[4]{2} \\
-i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow \sqrt[4]{2}
\end{aligned}
$$
 
Last edited:
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First of all, notice that the splitting field of ##x^4-2## is ##E=\mathbb{Q}(i,\sqrt[4]{2}).##
This is a degree ##8## extension of ##\mathbb{Q}## with basis ##i^p\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^q## where ##p=0,1## and ##q=0,1,2,3.##

In each case, it should be straightforward to check that the given field is indeed fixed by the Galois subgroups. You can also check that the index of the given field in ##E## equals the index of the Galois subgroup, which gives you what you want by the Galois correspondence theorem.

If you'd prefer to work it out directly (not using any theorems), let's take a look at ##N_1##.

The subgroup ##N_1## is generated by ##\xi## and ##\eta^2##. The element ##\xi## takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##i## to ##-i##, so an element of ##E## is fixed by ##\xi## if and only if it is real.

A real element of ##E## is of the form ##a+b\sqrt[4]{2}+c\sqrt{2}+d\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^3.##

The element ##\eta## takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}## and fixes ##i##, so ##\eta^2## takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^3## to ##-\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^3## and fixes ##\sqrt{2}##. It follows that the above general element of ##E\cap\mathbb{R}## is fixed by ##\eta^2## if and only if ##b=d=0##. So, the subfield of ##E## fixed by ##\xi## and ##\eta^2## is generated by ##\sqrt{2}##. The other correspondences are similar.
 
Infrared said:
First of all, notice that the splitting field of ##x^4-2## is ##E=\mathbb{Q}(i,\sqrt[4]{2}).##
This is a degree ##8## extension of ##\mathbb{Q}## with basis ##i^p\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^q## where ##p=0,1## and ##q=0,1,2,3.##

……
Thanks very much.
Can ##H_{4}## and ##N_4## be deduced in detail ? I felt them more difficult.
 
Last edited:
I made a typo in my previous post: ##\eta## takes ##i## to ##-i## (but ##\eta^2## still fixes ##i## so it's okay).

The subgroup ##N_4## is generated by ##\eta^2##, which I worked out above takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## and fixes ##i##. So the basis element ##i^p(\sqrt[4]{2})^q## is fixed if ##q## is even and taken to its negative if ##q## is odd. So, the fixed field of ##N_4## is generated by ##i## and ##\sqrt{2}##.

Is it possible you have a typo in ##H_4##? I think that the element ##\xi\eta^3## has order ##4##, not ##2##.
 
Infrared said:
I made a typo in my previous post: ##\eta## takes ##i## to ##-i## (but ##\eta^2## still fixes ##i## so it's okay).

The subgroup ##N_4## is generated by ##\eta^2##, which I worked out above takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## and fixes ##i##. So the basis element ##i^p(\sqrt[4]{2})^q## is fixed if ##q## is even and taken to its negative if ##q## is odd. So, the fixed field of ##N_4## is generated by ##i## and ##\sqrt{2}##.
How does it come out that ##N_4## is generated by ##i## and ##\sqrt{2}##?
Infrared said:
Is it possible you have a typo in ##H_4##? I think that the element ##\xi\eta^3## has order ##4##, not ##2##.
(I checked the book and cannot discern if it has error.)
 
Again, you can avoid any computation if you allow yourself to use the correspondence theorem. That said,

thaiqi said:
How does it come out that ##N_4## is generated by ##i## and ##\sqrt{2}##?
We see that ##\eta^2## takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to its negative and fixes ##i##. Each basis element is either fixed or taken to its negative according to whether the exponent of ##\sqrt[4]{2}## is even or odd. So the fixed field of ##\langle\eta^2\rangle## is generated by the elements ##\sqrt{2},i##.

thaiqi said:
(I checked the book and cannot discern if it has error.)
Well can you check how ##\xi\eta^3## acts and see if you agree with me?
 
Infrared said:
Well can you check how ##\xi\eta^3## acts and see if you agree with me?
I computed the case of ##\xi\eta^3## which gives out the result of ##Q(\sqrt[4]{2}(1-i))## and did not find problem. (it takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## into ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##i## into ##-i##)I have worked ##N_4## out. But I met problem in the same way for ##N_3##(for it is fixed for three mappings).
Can you illustrate how ##N_3## 's ##i\sqrt 2## is worked out? (I could check that ##i\sqrt 2## is invariant under those three mappings, but how can I compute it out? )
 
Last edited:
I think you have a typo in your formula for ##\eta##.

thaiqi said:
$$
\begin{aligned}
\eta : \sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -i\sqrt[4]{2} \\
i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -\sqrt[4]{2} \\
-\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow -i\sqrt[4]{2} \\
-i\sqrt[4]{2} \rightarrow \sqrt[4]{2}
\end{aligned}
$$

##\eta## can't take both ##\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}##. Presumably, one of them should be taken to ##i\sqrt[4]{2}## instead. Could you double check this?
 
Infrared said:
I think you have a typo in your formula for ##\eta##.
##\eta## can't take both ##\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}##. Presumably, one of them should be taken to ##i\sqrt[4]{2}## instead. Could you double check this?
You are correct. It should be taking ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##i\sqrt[4]{2}##, (not ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}##)Then how about my question above?
thaiqi said:
I computed the case of ##\xi\eta^3## which gives out the result of ##Q(\sqrt[4]{2}(1-i))## and did not find problem. (it takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## into ##-i\sqrt[4]{2}## and ##i## into ##-i##)I have worked ##N_4## out. But I met problem in the same way for ##N_3##(for it is fixed for three mappings).
Can you illustrate how ##N_3## 's ##i\sqrt 2## is worked out? (I could check that ##i\sqrt 2## is invariant under those three mappings, but how can I compute it out? )
 
Last edited:
  • #10
The group ##N_3## is generated by ##\eta^2## and ##\xi\eta##. The element ##\eta^2## takes ##\sqrt[4]{2}## to ##-\sqrt[4]{2}## and fixes ##i##. So, the basis elements ##i^p\left(\sqrt[4]{2}\right)^q## are either fixed or taken to their negatives according to whether ##q## is even or odd.

So, a basis for the fixed field of ##\eta^2## is ##\{1,\sqrt{2},i,i\sqrt{2}\}##. But here ##\xi\eta## changes the sign of ##\sqrt{2}## and ##i## and fixes the other two, so the field of elements fixed by both ##\eta^2## and ##\xi\eta## is generated by ##i\sqrt{2}##.
 
  • #11
I think you have explained it (##N_3##) very clearly.
Thank you very much!
 
  • #12
In my book it writes: (as to ##N_1##)
"
\eta^2(\sqrt 2) = \eta \eta (\sqrt[4]{2}) ^2 = \eta(i \sqrt[4]{2}) = (- \sqrt[4]{2})^2 = \sqrt{2}
"

I doubt there is a typo in it, it should be:
$$\eta(i \sqrt[4]{2})^2 $$
shouldn't it?
 
  • #13
thaiqi: Did you mean to write "doubt" or "believe"?
 
  • #14
zinq said:
thaiqi: Did you mean to write "doubt" or "believe"?
I think the book got an error here. But I am not self-confident.
 

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