Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 136 (Local Fields)

A suitable version of the Hensel lemma is this: if $R$ is a complete discrete valuation ring, $h\in R[X]$, and $\overline{a}$ is a root of $\overline{h}$ with ${\overline{h}}^{\prime }(\overline{a})\ne 0$, there is a unique $a\in R$ reducing to $\overline{a}$ with $h(a)=0$. Starting with any lift, Newton iteration over a valued field $a_{j+1}=a_j-h(a_j)/h^{\prime }(a_j)$ keeps the derivative a unit and doubles the error valuation, giving convergence. Uniqueness follows by factoring $h(u)-h(v)$ when two roots have the same residue.

The field in the rest of this question is not assumed complete, so that version cannot simply be applied to it. Instead use the stated uniqueness of the extension of an absolute value. Let ${\alpha }_i,{\alpha }_j$ be any two roots of a polynomial $f$, which is irreducible. The field embedding sending ${\alpha }_i$ to ${\alpha }_j$ identifies $K({\alpha }_i)$ with $K({\alpha }_j)$. Pulling the latter field's absolute value back gives an extension on $K({\alpha }_i)$, which must coincide with the given one. More generally, for every $h\in K[X]$,This proves equal absolute values of algebraic conjugates without assuming separability or a transitive action of a Galois group; repeated roots cause no difficulty.

Every root of the monic $f\in {\mathcal{O}}_K[X]$ has absolute value at most one. Indeed, if $|\alpha |>1$, then each lower term satisfies $|c_j{\alpha }^j|\le |\alpha {|}^j<|\alpha {|}^n$. The ultrametric inequality makes the leading term dominate their sum, contradicting $f(\alpha )=0$. Thus

All roots lie in the valuation ring ${\mathcal{O}}_M$, so their residues are defined in the residue field $k_M$. Let $\phi \in k_K[X]$ be the monic minimal polynomial of an algebraic element of ${\overline{\alpha }}_1$; this residue is algebraic because it satisfies the monic $\overline{f}$. Choose a coefficientwise lift $\Phi \in {\mathcal{O}}_K[X]$. Then $|\Phi ({\alpha }_1)|<1$, and the conjugacy argument gives $|\Phi ({\alpha }_i)|<1$ for every $i$. Hence every ${\overline{\alpha }}_i$ is a root of $\phi$.

Reduction of the splitting-field factorization, with multiplicities, givesEvery monic irreducible factor of $\overline{f}$ over $k_K$ has a root among these residues. That root also satisfies $\phi$, so its minimal polynomial is $\phi$. Unique factorization therefore proves the pure-power reduction of a monic irreducible polynomial:This does not assert that $\phi$ is separable or that the reduction is square-free.

Finally, factor the monic $g$ over $K$ as $g={\prod }_j{h}_j^{e_j}$ with distinct monic irreducible polynomials $h_j$. The same leading-term argument bounds every root of $g$ by one. Coefficients of any $h_j$ are elementary symmetric polynomials in some of these roots, so they lie in ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. By the preceding result each ${\overline{h}}_j$ is a power of a single monic irreducible residue polynomial ${\phi }_j$.

Since the prescribed ${\overline{g}}_1,{\overline{g}}_2$ are coprime, every ${\phi }_j$ occurs on exactly one side. Assign the entire factor $h_j^{e_j}$ to that side and form the two products. Comparing irreducible-factor multiplicities in the reduction proves the coprime factor lifting from valuation-extension uniqueness:Empty products are one, covering constant prescribed factors. The construction proves the required factor-lifting form of the Hensel lemma directly from extension uniqueness, without adding completeness as an unstated hypothesis.

On continuous functions on the p-adic integers, define the forward difference operator and the Mahler coefficients byWriting $Sf(x)=f(x+1)$, the explicit iterate follows from ${\Delta }^n=(S-I{)}^n$. The ultrametric inequality and integral binomial coefficients imply $\Vert \Delta f{\Vert }_{\infty }\le \Vert f{\Vert }_{\infty }$ and $|a_n(f){|}_p\le \Vert f{\Vert }_{\infty }$, where the supremum norm is taken over ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$.

The Mahler theorem states that every such $f$ has a unique expansion with uniform convergenceConversely, every sequence in ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$ tending to zero yields a continuous function by this expansion. The binomial polynomials form an orthonormal expansion in the non-Archimedean sense: $\Vert f{\Vert }_{\infty }={\sup }_n|a_n(f){|}_p$.

Here is the requested proof under the permitted coefficient-decay assumption. For $n\ge 1$, the binomial polynomial $B_n(x)=x(x-1)\cdots (x-n+1)/n!$ is a continuous function on ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$. Its values on nonnegative integers are integral, and those integers are dense in the p-adic integers. Since ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ is a closed set in ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$, $B_n({\mathbb{Z}}_p)\subseteq {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. Also $B_n(n)=1$, so $\Vert B_n{\Vert }_{\infty }=1$, including $B_0=1$.

If $a_n\to 0$, the ultrametric inequality gives the uniform tail boundCompleteness of ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$ gives a uniform limit $F$, and the uniform limit theorem makes $F$ continuous. At any nonnegative integer $m$, all $B_n(m)$ with $n>m$ vanish. Finite binomial inversion givessince the inner sum is $(1-1{)}^{m-j}$. Hence $F=f$ on a dense subset and therefore on all of ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$. The values at $m=0,1,2,\dots$ recover each coefficient recursively because $B_m(m)=1$; this proves uniqueness. The expansion bounds $\Vert f{\Vert }_{\infty }$ by $\sup |a_n{|}_p$, and the earlier coefficient inequality proves equality. This also proves the converse statement.

Although the problem allows us to assume decay, it can be established independently. By compactness and uniform continuity, approximate $f$ uniformly by $h$ constant on residue classes modulo $p^r$. On this finite-dimensional space, $S^{p^r}=I$ andThe matrix of ${\Delta }^{p^r}$ has entries divisible by $p$, so its operator norm is at most $p^{-1}$; consequently $\Vert {\Delta }^{j{p}^r+s}h{\Vert }_{\infty }\le p^{-j}\Vert h{\Vert }_{\infty }$ for $0\le s<p^r$. Thus $a_n(h)\to 0$. Since $|a_n(f)-a_n(h){|}_p\le \Vert f-h{\Vert }_{\infty }$, arbitrary uniform approximation proves automatic decay of Mahler coefficients.

For the last claim, construct the discrete antidifferentiation on the p-adic integersIts coefficient sequence is $0,a_0,a_1,\dots$, still tending to zero, so it is continuous. By Pascal's identity, $\Delta B_{n+1}=B_n$. The boundedness of $\Delta$ permits applying it to the uniform limit, giving $\Delta G=f$. For the stated linear map, invariance under translation by one now givesThus translation-invariant linear forms on p-adic continuous functions vanish:No continuity of $T$ has been assumed or used. In particular, one must not justify this by applying $T$ termwise to an infinite Mahler expansion; it is the existence of a continuous discrete antiderivative that makes the conclusion valid.

Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of non-Archimedean local fields, let $G=\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)$, and normalize the discrete valuation by $v_L(L^{\times })=\mathbb{Z}$. The lower ramification numbering isHere $G_0$ is the inertia group and $G_1$ is the wild inertia group. For real $s\ge -1$, put $G_s=G_{\lceil s\rceil }$; thus $G_s=G_0$ for $-1<s\le 0$. Define the Herbrand function and its inverse byextending $\phi (s)=s$ on $[-1,0]$. The upper ramification numbering is $G^u=G_{\psi (u)}$ for $u\ge -1$.

Let ${\alpha }^p-\alpha =t^{1-p}$ over $K={\mathbb{F}}_p((t))$, with $t$ its uniformizer. The Artin–Schreier polynomial has derivative $-1$ in characteristic $p$, so all its roots are distinct. If $\alpha$ is one root and $\beta$ another, then $(\beta -\alpha {)}^p=\beta -\alpha$, so $\beta -\alpha \in {\mathbb{F}}_p$. Conversely every $\alpha +a$, $a\in {\mathbb{F}}_p$, is a root. Thus $L=K(\alpha )$ contains all roots and is a splitting field of a separable polynomial; it is Galois. Every automorphism has the form ${\sigma }_a(\alpha )=\alpha +a$, and its Galois group embeds in the additive group of ${\mathbb{F}}_p$.

There is no root in $K$. If $v_K(z)\ge 0$, then $z^p-z$ cannot have negative valuation. If $v_K(z)<0$, the ultrametric inequality gives $v_K(z^p-z)=p{v}_K(z)$, divisible by $p$, whereas $v_K(t^{1-p})=1-p$ is not. The Galois group is consequently nontrivial. Its order divides the prime $p$, so

Let $e=e(L/K)$ be the ramification index. The equation forces $v_L(\alpha )<0$, and henceAs $\gcd (p,p-1)=1$, $p\mid e$. Since $e\le [L:K]=p$, we get $e=p$, residue-field degree one, and $v_L(\alpha )=1-p$. Thus this is a totally ramified extension, andThis is a uniformizer. The uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups states that for a totally ramified Galois extension, $\sigma \in G_i$ exactly when $v_L(\sigma ({\pi }_L)-{\pi }_L)\ge i+1$. Here every nonidentity automorphism satisfiesTherefore the ramification break of an Artin–Schreier pole occurs at $p-1$, and the lower groups areThis includes $p=2$, where the break is one. There is no off-by-one shift: the condition is $v_L(\sigma {\pi }_L-{\pi }_L)\ge i+1$.

For the upper groups, compute the Herbrand function explicitly:Hence the upper break is also $p-1$ and, with the stated real-index convention,As a consistency check, ${\pi }_L$ satisfies the Eisenstein polynomial $X^p-t^{p-1}X-t$. Its derivative in characteristic $p$ is $-t^{p-1}$, giving different exponent $p(p-1)$, equal to ${\sum }_{i\ge 0}(|G_i|-1)=p(p-1)$ from the different exponent from ramification groups.

Fix a non-Archimedean local field $K$, its valuation ring $R={\mathcal{O}}_K$, a uniformizer $\pi$, and a residue field with cardinality $q$. The construction below applies both in mixed and equal characteristic. A one-dimensional commutative formal group law is $F(X,Y)\in R[[X,Y]]$ with identity, associativity and commutativity, and $F(X,Y)=X+Y+$ higher-degree terms. It has a unique formal inverse. Its morphisms are series $h(T)\in TR[[T]]$ with $h(F(X,Y))=G(h(X),h(Y))$; a unit linear coefficient makes such a morphism invertible by recursive coefficient comparison. Evaluating its integral series on the maximal ideal of a finite extension of $K$ is legitimate because the series converge there.

Choose a Lubin–Tate series $f(T)$ satisfyingA useful choice is $f(T)=\pi T+T^q$. The Lubin–Tate functional equation lemma constructs a unique series with any prescribed linear form $\ell$ and satisfyingHere is its coefficient argument. If terms below degree $d$ have been found, the unknown homogeneous degree-$d$ term appears with multiplier $\pi -{\pi }^d$. The already known error has every coefficient divisible by $\pi$: after reduction, the equation becomes $H(X{)}^q=H(X_1^q,\dots ,X_r^q)$, valid because the residue coefficients lie in ${\mathbb{F}}_q$. Since $\pi -{\pi }^d$ is $\pi$ times a unit for $d\ge 2$, the next term is uniquely determined and integral. Recursion proves existence and uniqueness.

Use $\ell =X+Y$ to construct $F_f$, and $\ell =aT$ to construct $[a{]}_f$ for every $a\in R$. Uniqueness gives $F_f(X,0)=X$ and $F_f(0,Y)=Y$. Comparing $[a{]}_f(F_f(X,Y))$ with $F_f([a{]}_f(X),[a{]}_f(Y))$, which satisfy the same functional equation and have the same linear form, proves that $[a{]}_f$ is an endomorphism of the law. The same uniqueness applied to three variables proves associativity: $F_f(F_f(X,Y),Z)$ and $F_f(X,F_f(Y,Z))$ have the same linear form and functional equation. It also proves commutativity and the identitiesThus this Lubin–Tate formal group is equipped with an action of the whole ring $R$, not only its integers. For a unit $a$, the inverse of $[a{]}_f$ is $[a^{-1}{]}_f$. The same recursion, with two series for the fixed $\pi$, gives a unique strict Lubin–Tate change of series. Its integral series and inverse converge on torsion points, so it identifies their torsion fields. We may compute with $f(T)=\pi T+T^q$ without losing the general construction for that uniformizer.

Write $f_0(T)=T$ and $f_n=f^{\circ n}$. The Lubin–Tate torsion of level $n$ isFor $n\ge 1$, its primitive points are the roots ofThis is a monic polynomial of degree $D_n=(q-1)q^{n-1}$. Modulo $\pi$ it is $T^{D_n}$, and its constant coefficient is exactly $\pi$. Thus the Eisenstein layers of Lubin–Tate torsion are Eisenstein polynomials. A root ${\lambda }_n$ generates a totally ramified extension of degree $D_n$, and has $v_K({\lambda }_n)=1/D_n$ in the uniquely extended valuation. Also $f_{n-1}({\lambda }_n{)}^{q-1}=-\pi \ne 0$, so it has exact level $n$.

The mapis well-defined and injective. If $a={\pi }^{r}u$ with $r<n$ and $u$ a unit, then $[a]{\lambda }_n=[u]f_r({\lambda }_n)\ne 0$, because $[u]$ is invertible and ${\lambda }_n$ is primitive. Conversely every multiple of ${\pi }^n$ kills it. The image therefore contains $q^n$ distinct roots of the degree-$q^n$ polynomial $f_n$, so it is all of ${\Lambda }_n$. This proves, without merely assuming the torsion cardinality,Its primitive generators are exactly $[a]{\lambda }_n$ with $a\in (R/{\pi }^{n}R{)}^{\times }$.

Define the Lubin–Tate extension $K_{\pi ,n}=K({\Lambda }_n)$. Every integral endomorphism series evaluated at ${\lambda }_n$ converges in the complete field $K({\lambda }_n)$, so all torsion points already lie there. HenceIt is the splitting field of $f_n$, which has $q^n$ distinct roots by the module calculation. Thus it is Galois. Every K-automorphism preserves the uniquely extended absolute value on a field, hence is continuous and commutes with limits of the integral endomorphism series. Its automorphisms therefore commute with the endomorphism action and send a primitive generator to a primitive generator. There is a unique unit class $a_{\sigma }$ such that $\sigma ({\lambda }_n)=[a_{\sigma }]{\lambda }_n$. The Lubin–Tate Galois action on primitive torsion gives an injective homomorphismBoth sides have order $D_n=(q-1)q^{n-1}$, so it is an isomorphism. In particular every finite layer is abelian and totally ramified.

For an example, take $K={\mathbb{Q}}_p$, $\pi =p$, and the equally admissible series $f(T)=(1+T{)}^p-1$. Its formal group law is the formal multiplicative group $F(X,Y)=X+Y+XY$, with $[a](T)=(1+T{)}^a-1$ for $a\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. The binomial polynomials make its coefficients integral. Its level-$n$ torsion points are $\zeta -1$ with ${\zeta }^{p^n}=1$. Thus the Lubin–Tate cyclotomic example gives $K_{p,n}={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\mu }_{p^n})$ and Galois action $\zeta \mapsto {\zeta }^a$. The order formula includes $p=2,n=1$, when the first field and its Galois group are trivial over ${\mathbb{Q}}_2$.

Finally choose primitive points compatibly, $[\pi ]{\lambda }_{n+1}={\lambda }_n$. They exist by taking a root of $f(T)-{\lambda }_n$ in the algebraic closure; its roots have positive valuation and exact level $n+1$. Then $K_{\pi ,n}\subseteq K_{\pi ,n+1}$, and restriction of Galois automorphisms corresponds to reduction of unit classes. The Lubin–Tate tower $K_{\pi }={\bigcup }_n{K}_{\pi ,n}$ consequently has the topological Galois groupThe final isomorphism uses completeness of the discrete valuation ring $R$. This computes the finite-layer and infinite-tower Galois groups directly from the formal action and the primitive Eisenstein polynomials.