Galois representation ($\rho :G_F\to \mathrm{GL}(V)$)

A Galois representation is a continuous group representation of an absolute Galois group, usually on a vector space or lattice over a local field. Examples include the cyclotomic character and the representations attached to modular forms. The coefficient topology is part of the definition.

For an abelian variety $A$ and a prime number $\ell$ different from the characteristic, the inverse limit of its geometric ${\ell }^n$-torsion, with transition multiplication by $\ell$, is its Tate module. For an elliptic curve, it is free of rank two over the p-adic integers and satisfies $T_{\ell }(E)/{\ell }^n{T}_{\ell }(E)\simeq E[{\ell }^n]$. The absolute Galois group acts continuously and commutes with all base-defined endomorphisms.

Let $R=K\cap {\mathrm{End}}_k(E)$. If $\alpha \in R$ maps the Tate module into ${\ell }^n{T}_{\ell }(E)$, it kills $E[{\ell }^n]$ and factors through the quotient isogeny $[{\ell }^n]$. The resulting endomorphism is $\alpha /{\ell }^n$, belongs to $K$ and is defined over $k$, hence belongs to $R$. Approximation in $R\otimes {\mathbb{Z}}_{\ell }$ now identifies the displayed stabilizer. This does not assume that the integral Tate module is free over a possibly nonmaximal CM order.

Tensoring a Tate module with the P-adic numbers gives its rational Tate module. For a CM elliptic curve with base-defined multiplication by $K$, it is free of rank one over $K\otimes {\mathbb{Q}}_{\ell }$, including when this algebra is a product of two fields. In the split case the two distinct roots of a nonrational CM endomorphism each have a one-dimensional eigenspace.

A Galois character is a continuous one-dimensional Galois representation: the absolute Galois group acts by multiplication by a scalar in a coefficient field $F$. A quadratic character over a coefficient field of characteristic different from two has values in $\{1,-1\}$; after identifying this group with $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$, its kernel fixes a quadratic extension, or the base field for the trivial character. Its restriction to an inertia group is trivial exactly when that extension is unramified at the corresponding place.

The cyclotomic character is defined by $g(\zeta )={\zeta }^{\kappa (g)}$ on compatible $p$-power roots of unity. On the full cyclotomic tower of $\mathbb{Q}$, it identifies the Galois group with ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^{\times }$. Its finite-order part is the Teichmüller character and its pro-$p$ part acts through $1+p{\mathbb{Z}}_p$, or $1+4{\mathbb{Z}}_2$.

The Tate twist $M(1)$ multiplies a Galois representation's action by the cyclotomic character. Here ${\mathbb{Z}}_p(1)$ is the inverse limit of $p$-power roots of unity under power maps. For a one-variable Iwasawa module, twisting changes characteristic power series by the corresponding change in the generator's action.