Galois Groups

Galois Extensions, Galois Groups

Galois Groups

Let F/K be a field extension.  The galois group of F over K is the set of automorphisms of F that fix K.  Since automorphisms can be composed and reversed, this does indeed form a group.

Let u be algebraic over K, the root of an irreducible polynomial p(x).  Let c() be an automorphism taken from the galois group of F over K, hence it fixes K.  Apply c to the equation p(u) = 0, and the coefficients of p are fixed, hence c(u) is another root of p(x).  There are at most n roots, if p has degree n, so we only have a few choices.

If F/K is normal, every root of p(x) is a possible destination for c(u).  We proved this for the splitting field of p, and then extended it to a larger, normal extension.  Using the terminology of group theory, the galois group acts transitively on the roots of p(x).

Just to review, If c() is a field endomorphism on F/K, and F is algebraic, c is a field automorphism.  Suppose there is an element u that is not in the image of c(F), and let u be a root of p(x).  Let E be the intermediate field extension K(u).  This includes u, and some of its conjugates.  Now c is a monomorphism that carries roots to roots.  In other words, it maps a finite set of roots into itself, hence the map is onto.  There is some root v such that c(v) = u, and that means c is an automorphism on F.  When F/K is algebraic, all endomorphisms are automorphisms.  They all belong to the galois group.

If K(u) has dimension n over K, and u is a root of p(x), the automorphisms of K(u) carry u to a root of p(x), and nowhere else.  There are at most n such roots.  Furthermore, the entire automorphism is determined by the image of u.  Hence there are at most n automorphisms in the galois group.  Of course n is an upper bound, as shown by adjoining the real cube root of 2 to the rationals.  Everything in the extension is real, and the root cannot be mapped onto a complex cube root of 2, so the galois group is trivial, even though the dimension of the extension is 3.

Let E be an intermediate extension between F and K.  Every automorphism on F/E also fixes K, hence the galois group of F over E is a subgroup of the galois group of F over K.

Let F include a transcendental element u.  For every a in K, the automorphism fixing K and mapping u to a*u is a K automorphism, and the galois group has the multiplicative group of K as subgroup.  Replace u with u+a to show the galois group has the additive group of K as subgroup.