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Normalize the discrete valuations so a uniformiser has value one, and write $k_K,k_L$ for the residue fields. The ramification index $e$ is specified by $v_L{|}_K=e{v}_K$, and the residue degree is $f=[k_L:k_K]$. For finite extensions of complete discretely valued fields, $[L:K]=ef$. One way to see the degree equality is that ${\mathcal{O}}_L$ is a finite free ${\mathcal{O}}_K$-module of rank $[L:K]$; reduction modulo a uniformiser of $K$ has $e$ successive quotients isomorphic to $k_L$, hence dimension $ef$ over $k_K$.

An unramified extension has $e=1$ and separable residue extension, equivalently $[L:K]=f$ with separable residue extension. A totally ramified extension has $f=1$, equivalently $[L:K]=e$. The separability condition in the unramified extension definition matters if the residue field is imperfect; it is automatic for finite residue fields.

Suppose $L/K$ is unramified. Choose a primitive element of a field extension $\bar{x}$ for the finite separable extension $k_L/k_K$ and lift it to $x\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$. Since the residue degree of $K(x)/K$ is at least $[k_K(\bar{x}):k_K]=[L:K]$, necessarily $K(x)=L$. Its monic minimal polynomial of an algebraic element $f_x$ has coefficients in ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. Its reduction has degree $[L:K]$ and annihilates $\bar{x}$, whose minimal polynomial over $k_K$ has that same degree. The two coincide, so ${\bar{f}}_x$ is separable.

Conversely, suppose $L=K(x)$, $x\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$, and ${\bar{f}}_x$ is separable. It must be irreducible: otherwise its coprime factors lift by the factorization form of Hensel's lemma, contradicting irreducibility of $f_x$. Hence $\bar{x}$ has degree $[L:K]$ over $k_K$. The degree equality forces $f=[L:K]$ and $e=1$, and the residue extension is separable. We have proved the unramified generator criterion with separable reduction:

Now let $k_L={\mathbb{F}}_q$, $q=p^f$. Every element of $k_L^{\times }$ is a simple root of $X^{q-1}-1$, whose derivative is a unit at each root. Hensel's lemma lifts each of these $q-1$ elements uniquely to a root in ${\mathcal{O}}_L^{\times }$. Thus $L$ contains all $q-1$ roots of $X^{q-1}-1$; these are the nonzero Teichmuller lifts.

More generally, a root of unity of order prime to $p$ reduces injectively into $k_L^{\times }$. Indeed, if such a root reduces to $1$, uniqueness in Hensel's lemma for $X^m-1$ makes it equal to $1$. Consequently every prime-to-$p$ order divides $q-1$.

A root whose order has a nontrivial $p$-part produces a primitive $p$th root of unity $\zeta$. It reduces to $1$ in characteristic $p$. Sinceall the factors have the same positive integral valuation. HenceThis is the ramification bound for a primitive pth root of unity. ThereforeFor $p=2$ the hypothesis $e<1$ cannot occur, so that instance is vacuous rather than a claim excluding the ever-present root $-1$.

The inverse different is the trace-dual latticeThe integral closure ${\mathcal{O}}_L$ is finite free over the complete discrete valuation ring ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. Choose an integral basis and use the nondegenerate trace pairing to form its dual basis over $K$. This exhibits ${\mathfrak{D}}^{-1}$ as a full, finite ${\mathcal{O}}_K$-lattice. It is stable under multiplication by ${\mathcal{O}}_L$, because $b{\mathcal{O}}_L\subseteq {\mathcal{O}}_L$ for $b\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$, and bounded denominators make it a fractional ideal of ${\mathcal{O}}_L$. Integral elements have integral field traces, so ${\mathcal{O}}_L\subseteq {\mathfrak{D}}^{-1}$. A nonzero fractional ideal of a discrete valuation ring is invertible; its inverse is consequently an integral ideal, the different ideal ${\mathfrak{D}}_{L/K}$.

Assume now $A={\mathcal{O}}_K[x]={\mathcal{O}}_L$, with monic separable minimal polynomial $g$ of degree $n$. Lagrange interpolation at its distinct roots givesIndeed, these are the leading coefficients in the interpolation formula for $X^j$. For any element of $A$, this trace is the coefficient of $X^{n-1}$ in its degree-less-than-$n$ representative modulo $g$. The resulting pairing on the basis $1,x,\dots ,x^{n-1}$ is integral and unimodular: reversing the order of one basis makes its matrix triangular with diagonal ones, since entries vanish when the exponent sum is less than $n-1$. Thus it identifies $A$ with its full ${\mathcal{O}}_K$-dual. Translating back to the trace pairing proves

For a totally ramified extension of degree $n$, any uniformizer ${\pi }_L$ is an Eisenstein generator of a totally ramified extension, and ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathcal{O}}_K[{\pi }_L]$. To see the latter equality, use the common residue field to expand an integral element in powers of ${\pi }_L$ with digits from ${\mathcal{O}}_K$; reduce powers using its Eisenstein polynomial and take limits in the finite complete ${\mathcal{O}}_K$-module generated by $1,{\pi }_L,\dots ,{\pi }_L^{n-1}$. Write that polynomial as $X^n+{\sum }_{j<n}{a}_j{X}^j$, with $v_L(a_j)\ge n$ for $j<n$. When $p\nmid n$, the derivative's leading term has valuation $n-1$, while every other nonzero derivative term has valuation at least $n$. There can be no cancellation of the unique smallest term. Therefore

For the prime-power p-adic cyclotomic extension, put $\zeta ={\zeta }_{p^r}$ and $e=p^{r-1}(p-1)$. Modulo $p$, the shifted cyclotomic polynomial ${\Phi }_{p^r}(1+T)$ is $T^e$, while its constant term is $p$, not a multiple of $p^2$. It is therefore Eisenstein, so $\pi =\zeta -1$ is a uniformizer and ${\mathcal{O}}_{K_r}={\mathbb{Z}}_p[\zeta ]$. Fromwe obtain, by differentiating the numerator at $\zeta$,The denominator is a primitive-$p$ root of unity minus one and has $K_r$-valuation $p^{r-1}$. The different exponent is consequently $re-p^{r-1}$, givingThis includes $p=2,r=1$: the extension is trivial and its different exponent is zero.

The idele group is the multiplicative restricted productwith respect to ${\mathcal{O}}_v^{\times }$ at the finite places of a number field; $K_v$ is the completion of a valued field at the place $v$. Thus each tuple has nonzero components, and all but finitely many finite components are units. Its restricted product topology on the idele group has basic open sets ${\prod }_{v\in S}{W}_v\times {\prod }_{v\notin S}{\mathcal{O}}_v^{\times }$, where $S$ is finite and contains the infinite places, and each $W_v$ is open in $K_v^{\times }$. In particular $U_K$ is an open subgroup.

Embed $K^{\times }$ diagonally. Take a neighbourhood of one whose finite components all lie in ${\mathcal{O}}_v^{\times }$ and whose infinite components satisfy $|x_v-1|<1/2$ in the usual real or complex modulus. A diagonal element there is an algebraic unit $a$. If $a\ne 1$, then $a-1$ is a nonzero algebraic integer, so its field norm is a nonzero integer. Buta contradiction. Thus $K^{\times }$ is discrete. It is also closed: in a topological group, a subgroup with an isolated identity cannot have an external accumulation point, since quotients of two nearby subgroup elements would approach the identity.

Send an idele to its associated fractional ideal byOnly finitely many exponents are nonzero. This homomorphism is onto, by choosing powers of local uniformizers, and its kernel is $U_K$. Diagonal elements map to principal fractional ideals. The resulting quotient givesIt is a topological isomorphism when the ideal class group is given the discrete topology, since $U_K$ is open.

Use normalized local moduli: real modulus, squared complex modulus, and $|{\pi }_v{|}_v=(N{\mathfrak{p}}_v{)}^{-1}$ at a finite place. The idelic modulus $\Vert x\Vert ={\prod }_v|x_v{|}_v$ defines $J_K^1=\ker \Vert \cdot \Vert$, the norm-one idele group. The product formula puts $K^{\times }$ inside this kernel. Every ideal class has a representative in $J_K^1$, because an infinite component can be rescaled to correct the modulus without altering its fractional ideal. The compact space $J_K^1/K^{\times }$ therefore maps continuously onto the discrete ideal class group. Its image must be finite, proving $\mathrm{Cl}(K)$ is finite.

For the Dirichlet unit theorem, put $U^1=U_K\cap J_K^1$ and $E=K^{\times }\cap U^1={\mathcal{O}}_K^{\times }$. Let $r_1$ count real embeddings and $r_2$ count conjugate complex pairs. Infinite logarithms define a continuous surjectionusing $\log |x_v|$ at real places and $2\log |x_v|$ at complex places. Its kernel is compact: it consists of real signs, complex unit circles, and the product of compact finite-place unit groups. More generally the inverse image of a bounded closed subset of $H$ is compact. Since $E$ is closed and discrete, its intersection with each such inverse image is finite. Hence $\Lambda =\ell (E)$ is discrete in $H$, and the kernel $E\cap \ker \ell$ is a finite group. It is exactly the roots of unity $\mu (K)$, since every element of a finite multiplicative group has finite order and every root of unity has all local moduli one.

The image of $U^1$ in $J_K^1/K^{\times }$ is an open subgroup, hence also closed, and is homeomorphic to $U^1/E$. The assumed compactness therefore makes $U^1/E$ compact, and its continuous quotient $H/\Lambda$ is compact. A discrete cocompact subgroup of a real vector space is a full Euclidean lattice, of rank $\dim H=r_1+r_2-1$. Thus $E/\mu (K)\cong {\mathbb{Z}}^{r_1+r_2-1}$, and lifting a lattice basis splits off the free factor:This derives both finiteness and the unit rank from the stated compactness assumption, rather than assuming either conclusion to prove compactness.

A set $S$ of prime numbers has Dirichlet density $\delta$ if the following limit exists:Equivalently, the denominator can be ${\sum }_p{p}^{-s}$, since that sum is $\log (1/(s-1))+O(1)$. Adding or removing finitely many prime numbers leaves the Dirichlet density unchanged.

Put $\alpha =\sqrt[4]{2}>0$ and $L=\mathbb{Q}(\alpha ,i)$. This is the splitting field of $X^4-2$, whose four roots of a polynomial are $\alpha ,i\alpha ,-\alpha ,-i\alpha$. The polynomial is an Eisenstein polynomial at $2$, so $[\mathbb{Q}(\alpha ):\mathbb{Q}]=4$. Since $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$ is contained in the real numbers, it does not contain $i$, giving $[L:\mathbb{Q}]=8$. Thus $L/\mathbb{Q}$ is a Galois extension of degree $8$. Its Galois group is the dihedral group of order $8$: the field automorphisms $r(\alpha )=i\alpha$, $r(i)=i$ and $s(\alpha )=\alpha$, $s(i)=-i$ satisfy $r^4=s^2=1$ and $srs=r^{-1}$.

For an odd prime number $p$, the condition $p\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$ means that the finite field ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ contains all fourth roots of unity. Under this condition, $2$ is a quartic residue exactly when $X^4-2$ has a root in ${\mathbb{F}}_p$; multiplying that root by $1,i,-1,-i$ gives all four distinct roots. Conversely, complete splitting of $X^4-2$ over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ gives both a fourth root of $2$ and a primitive fourth root of unity, so it also forces $p\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$.

The polynomial discriminant of $X^4-2$ is $-2^{11}$. Hence every odd prime number is unramified in $L$, and the root-splitting criterion is equivalent to its Frobenius automorphism acting trivially on all the roots. Since the roots generate $L$, this is equivalent to the Frobenius automorphism being the identity, or to $p$ being a completely split prime of $L/\mathbb{Q}$. The Chebotarev density theorem says that the unramified prime numbers with Frobenius conjugacy class $C$ have Dirichlet density $|C|/|\mathrm{Gal}(L/\mathbb{Q})|$. Here $C=\{1\}$, so

In characteristic two, let $K={\mathbb{F}}_2(t)$ and $L=K(u)$ with $u^2+u=t$. The Artin–Schreier polynomial is irreducible: if $r\in K$ solved it, a finite pole of $r$ would create a pole of even order in $r^2+r$, impossible for $t$; at infinity a pole of $r$ likewise gives even order, while $t$ has order one. A constant $r$ cannot solve it either. Its derivative is one, so this degree-two extension is separable field extension. Adjoining $\sqrt{\alpha }$ in characteristic two is either trivial or purely inseparable field extension, since the derivative of $X^2-\alpha$ vanishes. Hence $\boxed{L\ne K(\sqrt{\alpha })\text{ for every }\alpha \in K}$.

For the second example take $\boxed{K={\mathbb{F}}_{11}}$. Every extension still has characteristic eleven, and $X^{11}-1=(X-1{)}^{11}$ in it. Thus the only eleventh root of unity is one, whose order is one, and there is no primitive eleventh root in any extension.

Here one must distinguish two conventions for a radical extension. The solvability theorem says that a finite extension with solvable normal-closure Galois group is contained in a tower of radical adjunctions. Under the convention that this containment defines a radical extension, this is the requested assertion.

Let $N/K$ be the finite normal closure and let $m$ be divisible by the orders of its Galois group elements. Adjoin a primitive $m$th root of unity, obtaining $K^{\prime }=K({\zeta }_m)$, which itself is a radical adjunction since ${\zeta }_m^m=1$. The Galois group of $N{K}^{\prime }/K^{\prime }$ embeds in the solvable group of $N/K$, so it is solvable. A composition series with cyclic prime-order quotients gives a tower of cyclic prime-degree extensions above $K^{\prime }$. Each is a radical adjunction, as the following argument shows.

For a cyclic extension $E/F$ of prime degree $p$ containing ${\zeta }_p$, let $\sigma$ generate its Galois group. The $F$-linear operator $\sigma$ satisfies $X^p-1$, a product of distinct linear factors in characteristic zero. Thus it is diagonalizable. Because $\sigma \ne 1$, it has an eigenvector $a\ne 0$ with eigenvalue ${\zeta }_p^j\ne 1$. Then $a^p\in F$ and $a\notin F$, so $E=F(a)$ by primeness of the degree. Applying this at every step produces a radical tower containing $L$.

If “radical extension” instead means that $L/K$ itself must be such a tower, the printed statement is false without this qualification. For example the real cubic subfield of $\mathbb{Q}({\zeta }_7)$ is cyclic and solvable, but contains no nonrational $a$ with $a^n\in \mathbb{Q}$: all three conjugates are real roots of the same equation $X^n=a^n$, which has at most two real roots, while any nonrational element of the cubic field has three distinct conjugates. Consequently no nontrivial radical adjunction can start a tower inside it. Containment in a radical tower is the valid general conclusion.