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For $L={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_{p^n})$, the uniformiser ${\zeta }_{p^n}-1$ and the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups give the displayed valuation for $a\ne 1$. Thus $G_0$ is the full unit group modulo $p^n$, and $G_i$ consists of units congruent to one modulo $p^j$ when $p^{j-1}\le i\le p^j-1$, $1\le j<n$. All groups are trivial for $i\ge p^{n-1}$. The formula includes $p=2$, where the first congruence subgroup is already the full group.

Put $\alpha =\sqrt[p]{p}$ and $\lambda ={\zeta }_p-1$. The polynomial $T^p-p$ is Eisenstein, so $[{\mathbb{Q}}_p(\alpha ):{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=p$, while the preceding part gives degree $p-1$ for $E$. Both numbers divide $[K:{\mathbb{Q}}_p]$ by the tower law, and the compositum degree is at most their product. Coprimality forces $[K:{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=p(p-1)$. Since $K$ contains all the roots ${\zeta }_p^a\alpha$ of $T^p-p$, it is the splitting field of a separable polynomial and is Galois.

Extend $v_p$ with $v_p(p)=1$. Then $v_p(\alpha )=1/p$, $v_p(\lambda )=1/(p-1)$, andThe value group therefore forces the ramification index to be at least $p(p-1)$; it cannot exceed the extension degree. Thus $K/{\mathbb{Q}}_p$ is totally ramified and $\varpi$ is a uniformizer for the normalized valuation $v_K=p(p-1)v_p$.

Write its automorphisms as ${\sigma }_{a,b}(\alpha )={\zeta }_p^a\alpha$ and ${\sigma }_{a,b}({\zeta }_p)={\zeta }_p^b$, with $a\in {\mathbb{F}}_p$, $b\in {\mathbb{F}}_p^{\times }$. The degree count makes all $p(p-1)$ pairs occur, giving $G\cong {\mathbb{F}}_p⋊{\mathbb{F}}_p^{\times }$. Their action on the uniformizer isIf $b\ne 1$, the residue of this ratio is $b$, so subtracting one gives a unit and $v_K({\sigma }_{a,b}(\varpi )-\varpi )=1$. If $b=1$ and $a\ne 0$, the ratio is ${\zeta }_p^{-a}$, giving displacement valuation $1+v_K({\zeta }_p^{-a}-1)=p+1$. The identity has infinite displacement valuation.

By the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups, $\sigma \in G_i$ precisely when that displacement valuation is at least $i+1$. Hence the ramification groups of the splitting field of Xp minus p over the p-adic numbers have sizesFor $1\le i\le p$ the group itself is $\{{\sigma }_{a,1}:a\in {\mathbb{F}}_p\}\cong C_p$. The lower wild ramification break is $p$.

For the finite Galois extension, normalize the discrete valuation $v_L$ to have value group $\mathbb{Z}$. The inertia group isThe lower ramification numbering isThe wild inertia group is $P=G_1$, and the tame inertia quotient is $I/P$. We will prove that $P$ is a $p$-group, where $p=\mathrm{char}{k}_K$, and that $I/P$ is cyclic of order prime to $p$. Tame inertia here is a quotient, not a specified canonical subgroup complementary to $P$.

First reduce the inertia calculation to a totally ramified extension. Choose $\bar{b}$ generating the finite residue extension $k_L/k_K$. Its minimal polynomial is separable. Lift that monic polynomial to $f\in {\mathcal{O}}_K[X]$, and use Hensel lemma in ${\mathcal{O}}_L$ to obtain a root $b$ with residue $\bar{b}$. Irreducibility of the reduction implies irreducibility of $f$ over $K$, by the monic form of the Gauss lemma for polynomials over a discrete valuation ring. Thus $K_0=K(b)$ has degree $[k_L:k_K]$ and residue field $k_L$; the degree formula makes $K_0/K$ unramified. An automorphism fixes $b$ precisely when it fixes $\bar{b}$: the nontrivial direction is uniqueness in Hensel lemma. Hence $I=\mathrm{Gal}(L/K_0)$, and $L/K_0$ is totally ramified.

Use the permitted integral-generation fact ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathcal{O}}_{K_0}[{\pi }_L]$. Every element of $I$ fixes the coefficients in this expression. The identity $\sigma ({\pi }_L^j)-{\pi }_L^j=(\sigma {\pi }_L-{\pi }_L){\sum }_{h=0}^{j-1}(\sigma {\pi }_L{)}^h{\pi }_L^{j-1-h}$ consequently proves the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups:Necessity follows by testing $x={\pi }_L$, and the displayed power identity proves sufficiency for every integral polynomial in ${\pi }_L$.

Define the uniformizer character of inertiaIt is multiplicative: writing $u_{\tau }=\tau {\pi }_L/{\pi }_L$, one has $\sigma \tau {\pi }_L/{\pi }_L=\sigma (u_{\tau })(\sigma {\pi }_L/{\pi }_L)$, and $\sigma$ acts trivially on residue units. Its kernel is exactly $v_L(\sigma {\pi }_L-{\pi }_L)\ge 2$, namely $G_1$. Changing the uniformizer to $u{\pi }_L$ leaves the residue character unchanged, since $\overline{\sigma (u)/u}=1$. ThereforeEvery finite subgroup of a field's multiplicative group is cyclic: if its exponent is $m$, every element is a root of $X^m-1$, so its order is at most $m$; a finite abelian group has an element of order its exponent, constructed by multiplying elements of maximal prime-power orders, so its order is at least $m$. Equality makes it cyclic. Here $k_L^{\times }$ has order $|k_L|-1$, prime to $p$. We have proved

To verify the assertion about wild inertia as well, for $i\ge 1$ defineWrite $\sigma {\pi }_L={\pi }_L+a{\pi }_L^{i+1}$ and $\tau {\pi }_L={\pi }_L+b{\pi }_L^{i+1}$. Composition gives $\sigma \tau {\pi }_L\equiv {\pi }_L+(a+b){\pi }_L^{i+1}(\mathrm{mod}{\pi }_L^{i+2})$, because inertia fixes residues and $i\ge 1$. Thus ${\theta }_i$ is additive with kernel $G_{i+1}$. Thus positive ramification quotients are elementary abelian: each $G_i/G_{i+1}$ is a subgroup of the additive finite field, hence an elementary abelian $p$-group.

Finally the filtration terminates: a nonidentity element of $I$ cannot fix ${\pi }_L$, since it already fixes $K_0$ and ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathcal{O}}_{K_0}[{\pi }_L]$. Its displacement has finite valuation, and there are only finitely many automorphisms. Iterating the finite $p$-group quotients gives that $P$ is a $p$-group. It is normal in $I$ and has prime-to-$p$ quotient, so it is its unique Sylow $p$-subgroup, justifying the wild inertia terminology.

Let $d=[L:K]$, with normalized discrete valuations $v_K,v_L$. Suppose first that $L/K$ is totally ramified, so $e(L/K)=d$. Choose a uniformizer $x$ of $L$. The elements $1,x,\dots ,x^{d-1}$ are linearly independent over $K$: the nonzero terms $c_j{x}^j$ in any proposed relation have valuations $d{v}_K(c_j)+j$, distinct modulo $d$, and a sum with a unique least valuation cannot vanish by the ultrametric inequality. Hence $[K(x):K]\ge d$, proving $L=K(x)$.

Extend $v_K$ to an algebraic closure with values in $\mathbb{Q}$. Every conjugate of $x$ has valuation $1/d$, by uniqueness of the extended valuation on finite extensions of the complete field $K$. In its monic minimal polynomial of an algebraic element $g(T)=T^d+a_{d-1}{T}^{d-1}+\cdots +a_0$, the coefficient $a_{d-j}$ is a sum of products of $j$ conjugates, counted with multiplicity. Thus $v_K(a_{d-j})\ge j/d>0$ for $j\ge 1$, so every nonleading coefficient is in ${\mathfrak{m}}_K$. The constant coefficient is the product of all $d$ conjugates, so has valuation exactly one. This proves that $g$ is an Eisenstein polynomial. This argument also works for inseparable finite extensions, since the conjugates can be counted with their multiplicities.

Conversely let $g$ be an Eisenstein polynomial of degree $d$, with root $x$ and $L=K(x)$. The Eisenstein criterion proves irreducibility. For completeness, monic factors would have integral coefficients; their reductions would be positive-degree powers of $T$, so both constant coefficients would be divisible by the uniformizer of $K$, contradicting $v_K(g(0))=1$. To determine the root valuation, put $t=v_K(x)$ in the extended valuation. If $t<0$, the leading term is the unique term of least valuation; if $t=0$, the leading term again has uniquely least valuation zero. Both are impossible. If $t>0$, every nonconstant lower term has valuation at least $1+jt>1$. Cancellation in $g(x)=0$ therefore requires the leading term and constant term to have equal valuation:Since $t=v_L(x)/e(L/K)$ and $v_L(x)$ is a positive integer, $e(L/K)=d{v}_L(x)\ge d$. The opposite inequality follows from $[L:K]=e(L/K)f(L/K)=d$. Hence $e=d$, $f=1$, and $v_L(x)=1$. We have proved both the equivalence and the uniformizer assertion:

Now take $q=p^a$ with $a\ge 1$ and $\zeta ={\zeta }_{p^a}$. The translated cyclotomic polynomial isIn characteristic $p$, putting $U=T^{p^{a-1}}$ reduces this to ${\sum }_{j=0}^{p-1}(1+U{)}^j=U^{p-1}=T^{p^{a-1}(p-1)}$. Its constant coefficient over the integers is $p$. It is therefore Eisenstein at $p$, of degree $d=p^{a-1}(p-1)$. Consequently ${\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_{p^a})/{\mathbb{Q}}_p$ is totally ramified of degree $d$, with uniformizer ${\zeta }_{p^a}-1$. If $q=1$, the field is simply ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$, a trivial totally ramified extension.

For a general positive integer $n=p^{a}m$ with $p\nmid m$, the field generated by the prime-to-$p$ root of unity ${\zeta }_m$ is unramified. Indeed $T^m-1$ has distinct roots modulo $p$. In a finite unramified field whose residue field contains those roots, Hensel lemma lifts all of them uniquely. Reduction preserves their orders: a prime-to-$p$ root reducing to one must itself be one, by Hensel uniqueness at the root one of $T^m-1$. The arithmetic Frobenius therefore acts as ${\zeta }_m\mapsto {\zeta }_m^p$, and the extension degree is the multiplicative order of $p$ modulo $m$, with degree one when $m=1$.

The identityfollows by taking powers of a primitive nth root of unity and using the coprimality of $p^a,m$ in the opposite direction. The prime-to-$p$ field is unramified and the $p$-power field is totally ramified; unramified base change preserves total ramification proves that their compositum has the same residue degree as the prime-to-$p$ field. Thus the total ramification criterion for local cyclotomic extensions gives the full classification:This includes trivial extensions when $a=0$. For $p=2$ only $m=1$ is possible.

For a finite totally ramified Galois extension $L/K$ with Galois group $G$, define its lower ramification numbering byHere $G_0$ is the inertia group, which equals $G$, and $G_1$ is the wild inertia group. For a uniformizer $\pi$ the condition is equivalent to $v_L(\sigma (\pi )-\pi )\ge i+1$. To justify this uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups, expand every $b\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$ as a convergent series ${\sum }_{j\ge 0}{c}_j{\pi }^j$ with the coefficients $c_j$ chosen from representatives of $k_K$ in ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. Such an expansion is obtained by successive subtraction of a residue representative and division by $\pi$, since total ramification gives $k_L=k_K$. The automorphism fixes each $c_j$, and $\sigma (\pi {)}^j-{\pi }^j$ is divisible by $\sigma (\pi )-\pi$. Thus the required valuation bound for $\pi$ implies it for every $b$, including the limit by completeness.

For $L={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_{p^a})$, all primitive conjugates lie in $L$ and the Eisenstein degree is $\phi (p^a)$. HenceIf ${\sigma }_b\ne 1$, put $s=v_p(b-1)$, so $0\le s<a$. The element ${\zeta }^{b-1}$ is a primitive $p^{a-s}$th root of unity. Applying the already proved uniformizer result to its field, and multiplying its valuation by the ramification index of $L$ over that field, givesThe identity automorphism has infinite valuation. Therefore the lower ramification filtration of a prime-power cyclotomic extension is explicitlyThe order of the middle group is $p^{a-j}$. At odd $p$, $G_0/G_1$ has order $p-1$; at $p=2$, the condition $b\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}2)$ is automatic, so $G_0=G_1$ when $a\ge 2$. The case $p=2,a=1$ has trivial Galois group, and the displayed formula remains valid. For $a=0$ all groups are trivial. The valuation calculation also provides the upper ramification numbering, if desired, by integrating the reciprocal indices with the Herbrand function; no change of numbering is implicit in the displayed answer.

Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of non-Archimedean local fields, with Galois group $G$, normalized valuation $v_L$, integer ring ${\mathcal{O}}_L$, and residue characteristic $p$. The lower ramification numbering isThese higher ramification groups measure successively finer agreement with the identity. The group $G_0$ is the inertia group, the kernel of the action on the residue field. Each $G_i$ is normal in $G$: conjugation permutes integral elements and preserves their valuations. The groups eventually become trivial, since each nonidentity automorphism moves some integral element and its displacement has finite valuation.

Let $K_0=L^{G_0}$, the maximal unramified subextension of a local field extension. Then $G/G_0$ is the Galois group of the residue extension, cyclic and generated by a Frobenius automorphism. For a uniformizer $\pi$ of $L$, the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups givesTo see why one uniformizer suffices, the extension $L/K_0$ is totally ramified and its integer ring is ${\mathcal{O}}_{K_0}[\pi ]$. Elements of $G_0$ fix its coefficients. Differences of powers of $\pi$ are divisible by $\sigma \pi -\pi$, so the valuation bound for $\pi$ implies it for every integral element. The converse follows by testing $\pi$ itself.

The tame inertia quotient is seen explicitly fromIt is a homomorphism because inertia acts trivially on the residue field, and its kernel is $G_1$. Thus $G_0/G_1$ is cyclic of order not divisible by $p$. For $i\ge 1$, the homomorphismhas kernel $G_{i+1}$. Indeed composing two automorphisms adds the leading displacements, since $\sigma \pi /\pi \equiv 1$ and inertia fixes residue coefficients. Hence each $G_i/G_{i+1}$ is an elementary abelian p-group. Eventual triviality makes $G_1$ a p-group; the prime-to-p quotient makes it the unique Sylow subgroup of $G_0$. This is the wild inertia group. Tame ramification means $G_1=1$.

The filtration also measures the different exponent. For the totally ramified extension over $K_0$, the minimal polynomial of an algebraic element $g$ of $\pi$ has polynomial roots $\sigma \pi$, $\sigma \in G_0$. The derivative formula givesFor a fixed $\sigma$, its displacement valuation is the number of indices $i\ge 0$ for which it belongs to $G_i$. Interchanging the finite sums therefore gives different exponent from ramification groups:The unramified part contributes zero. More generally different in a tower follows by taking products of bases of a module dual for the trace pairing, and givesThus a tame extension has different exponent $e-1$, while nontrivial wild groups contribute additional positive terms.

The lower numbering restricts to subgroups: if $H=\mathrm{Gal}(L/E)$, its groups are $H_i=H\cap G_i$, directly from the definition using the same top-field valuation. Quotients need a different indexing. For real $s\ge 0$ put $G_s=G_{\lceil s\rceil }$ and define the Herbrand functionThis upper ramification numbering stretches or compresses intervals according to the inertia indices. The quotient theorem says that for a normal subgroup $H$, upper ramification groups commute with quotients:In particular the same upper index has a meaning compatible with passing to a smaller Galois extension, which lower indices generally lack.

For a tame totally ramified extension the picture is simple: $G_0=G$, all $G_i$ with $i\ge 1$ are trivial, and the different exponent is $|G|-1$. The extension ${\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_p)$ for odd $p$ illustrates this, giving exponent $p-2$.

A mixed-characteristic wild family is the lower ramification filtration of a prime-power cyclotomic extension. Take $L={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_{p^r})$ with odd $p$ and $\pi ={\zeta }_{p^r}-1$. If ${\sigma }_a(\zeta )={\zeta }^a$ and $a\ne 1$ modulo $p^r$, thenThe last equality follows because ${\zeta }^{a-1}$ has order $p^{r-v_p(a-1)}$ and its uniformizer valuation scales by the ramification index in that cyclotomic tower. The lower breaks are $0,p-1,p^2-1,\dots ,p^{r-1}-1$. Integrating the successive indices $(p-1),p(p-1),\dots$ gives upper breaks $0,1,\dots ,r-1$.

In equal characteristic there is an equally explicit wild example. Start with $K={\mathbb{F}}_q((t))$ and an Artin–Schreier extensionThere is no polynomial root in $K$: a negative-valuation element has $v(x^p-x)=pv(x)$, while the right side has valuation $-m$. Adjoining a polynomial root splits the polynomial, whose polynomial roots are $y+c$ for $c\in {\mathbb{F}}_p$, so the extension is cyclic of degree $p$. The valuation equation forces total ramification, $v_L(t)=p$ and $v_L(y)=-m$. Choose $1\le b\le p-1$ with $-bm\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}p)$ and set $a=(1+bm)/p$. Then $\pi =t^a{y}^b$ is a uniformizer. For a nonidentity automorphism $y\mapsto y+c$,the first binomial coefficient $b$ is nonzero modulo $p$, and all subsequent terms have strictly higher valuation. ThereforeThis is the ramification break of an Artin–Schreier pole. It shows concretely that wild breaks, unlike tame inertia, can occur arbitrarily far out in the filtration.

Put $\zeta ={\zeta }_{p^n}$, with $n\ge 1$. The shifted cyclotomic polynomial ${\Phi }_{p^n}(1+X)$ is Eisenstein at $p$: its constant term is $p$, and modulo $p$ it is $X^{p^{n-1}(p-1)}$. Therefore $L/{\mathbb{Q}}_p$ is totally ramified of degree $p^{n-1}(p-1)$ and $\pi =\zeta -1$ is a uniformiser.

The Galois group is $(\mathbb{Z}/p^n\mathbb{Z}{)}^{\times }$, with ${\sigma }_a(\zeta )={\zeta }^a$. For $a\ne 1$, let $r=v_p(a-1)$, $0\le r<n$. Then ${\zeta }^{a-1}$ is a primitive $p^{n-r}$th root. Its difference from one is a uniformiser in the corresponding smaller cyclotomic field, and the relative ramification index is $p^r$. HenceThe uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups now determines every group. Write $U_j=\{a\in (\mathbb{Z}/p^n\mathbb{Z}{)}^{\times }:a\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}{p}^j)\}$, with $U_n=\{1\}$. Then the lower ramification filtration of a prime-power cyclotomic extension isFor $n=1$ the middle range is empty and the extension is tame. The formula also includes $p=2$; then $U_1$ is already the whole group, so the first possible drop is later than in the odd-prime case. For $p=2,n=1$, the entire extension is trivial.

Write $\alpha =\sqrt[3]{3}$ and $\zeta ={\zeta }_3$. The cubic is Eisenstein and adjoining $\zeta$ adds at most a quadratic extension, so $[L:{\mathbb{Q}}_3]\le 6$. SetUsing ${\zeta }^2+\zeta +1=0$ and ${\alpha }^3=3$, compute ${\pi }^3=1+2\zeta$ and ${\pi }^6=-3$. Thus $\pi$ satisfies the Eisenstein polynomial $X^6+3$. This proves $L={\mathbb{Q}}_3(\pi )$, degree six, with $\pi$ a uniformiser and the extension totally ramified. It is the splitting field of $X^3-3$, so its Galois group is $S_3$. This is the Eisenstein sextic presentation of the splitting field of X3 minus 3 over Q3.

The six automorphisms have $\sigma (\alpha )={\zeta }^a\alpha$, $a\in \{0,1,2\}$, and $\sigma (\zeta )={\zeta }^b$, $b\in \{1,2\}$. Since $v_L(3)=6$, we have $v_L(\alpha )=2$ and $v_L(\zeta -1)=3$.

If $b=1$ and $a\ne 0$, then $\sigma (\pi )={\zeta }^{-a}\pi$, whence $v_L(\sigma (\pi )-\pi )=1+3=4$. These are the two nonidentity elements of the cyclic subgroup $C_3$.

If $b=2$, use ${\zeta }^2-1=(\zeta -1)(\zeta +1)=-(\zeta -1){\zeta }^2$. Then $\sigma (\pi )=-{\zeta }^{2-a}\pi$. The coefficient $-{\zeta }^{2-a}-1$ reduces to $-2\ne 0$ in the residue field ${\mathbb{F}}_3$, so the difference has valuation one. These three automorphisms are the transpositions.

The uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups consequently givesAs a consistency check, the different exponent is $(6-1)+3(3-1)=11$. The derivative of the monogenic Eisenstein polynomial gives the same value, $v_L(6{\pi }^5)=6+5=11$. In particular, stopping the wild filtration at $G_1$ would give the wrong different.

For a finite Galois extension of local fields, let $G=\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)$, $G_{-1}=G$, and, for integers $i\ge 0$, define the lower ramification groups byIn particular, $G_0$ is the inertia group. The identity satisfies every bound because $v_L(0)=\infty$.

If the extension is totally ramified, its residue fields agree. Choose representatives in ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ of their common residue field. Every $a\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$ has a convergent uniformiser expansion $a={\sum }_{j\ge 0}{c}_j{\pi }_L^j$ with these representatives $c_j$, all fixed by $G$. For $j\ge 1$,Each summand in the second factor has valuation $j-1$. Thus a bound $v_L(\sigma ({\pi }_L)-{\pi }_L)\ge i+1$ implies the same bound on $\sigma (a)-a$, by convergence and the valuation inequality. Necessity follows by testing $a={\pi }_L$. This proves the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups:

Choose $\beta$ with ${\beta }^{p(p-1)}=-p$ and put $N=p(p-1)$. The Eisenstein polynomial $T^N+p$ shows that $L={\mathbb{Q}}_p(\beta )$ has degree $N$, is totally ramified, and has uniformizer $\beta$. Its subfield ${\mathbb{Q}}_p({\beta }^p)$ is the field $K$ from the previous part. Because $p$ is odd,Thus $L$ contains $a$ and ${\zeta }_p$, and contains all roots $a{\zeta }_p^j$ of $T^p-p$. Conversely $[{\mathbb{Q}}_p(a):{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=p$, while $[K:{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=p-1$. Their coprime degrees force their compositum to have degree $N$. It is contained in $L$ and hence equals it. Therefore $L$ is exactly the splitting field, not merely an extension containing it.

The Galois group has a normal subgroup $H=\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)$ of order $p$, acting by $\beta \mapsto {\zeta }_p^j\beta$. The $(p-1)$st roots of unity already lie in ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$ by the Hensel lemma. The maps $\beta \mapsto \omega \beta$, with ${\omega }^{p-1}=1$, supply a complement of order $p-1$. Its conjugation acts faithfully on $H$, so $G\cong C_p⋊{\mathbb{F}}_p^{\times }$.

Normalize $v_L(\beta )=1$. Total ramification and the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups reduce the calculation to $i_G(\sigma )=v_L(\sigma \beta -\beta )$. For nonidentity $\sigma \in H$,since $e(L/K)=p$ and $v_K({\zeta }_p^j-1)=1$. For $\sigma \notin H$, write $\sigma \beta =\omega {\zeta }_p^j\beta$ with $\omega \ne 1$. Its multiplier has residue $\overline{\omega }\ne 1$, so $i_G(\sigma )=1$. The lower ramification numbering is thereforeAll later groups are trivial. The wild lower break is $p$, not one. In the upper ramification numbering, the Herbrand function sends this break to $p/(p-1)$: $G^0=G$, $G^u=H$ for $0<u\le p/(p-1)$, and $G^u=1$ above it.

As an independent consistency check, the different exponent from ramification groups is $(N-1)+p(p-1)=2N-1$. The derivative of the Eisenstein polynomial gives the same answer, $v_L(N{\beta }^{N-1})=N+(N-1)$, since $v_L(p)=N$.

The filtration and its meaning. Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of non-Archimedean local fields, with group $G$, normalized valuation $v_L$, and residue fields $k_L/k_K$ of characteristic $\ell$. The lower ramification numbering isThe higher ramification groups are normal, decrease with $j$, and eventually become trivial: for each nonidentity automorphism some integral element is moved by a nonzero amount. The first group $G_0$ is the inertia group, withIts fixed field is the maximal unramified extension inside $L$. The wild inertia group is $G_1$. For a uniformizer ${\pi }_L$, there are injective homomorphismsThe kernels are the indicated next groups; the additive homomorphism assertion follows by expanding a product of automorphisms modulo ${\pi }_L^{j+2}$. These maps show that $G_0/G_1$ is cyclic of order prime to $\ell$, while $G_1$ is an $\ell$-group. Thus tame ramification is exactly the case $G_1=1$.

To calculate the groups, the uniformizer criterion for lower ramification groups saysIndeed, ${\mathcal{O}}_L$ is generated by ${\pi }_L$ over the integers of the maximal unramified subextension, which $G_0$ fixes. Differences of powers of ${\pi }_L$ are divisible by $\sigma {\pi }_L-{\pi }_L$, so the one test implies all the defining inequalities.

Eisenstein facts used in the calculations. For a complete discrete valuation ring $A$ with uniformizer $\varpi$, a monic polynomialis an Eisenstein polynomial if $\varpi \mid a_j$ for every $j<d$ and ${\varpi }^2\nmid a_0$. The Eisenstein criterion makes it irreducible. If $\theta$ is a root, its valuation relative to the base normalization is $1/d$, the extension has degree and ramification index $d$, its residue field is unchanged, andThe root valuation follows by comparing the terms of its equation. The ramification index must then be at least $d$, hence exactly $d$. In the basis $1,\theta ,\dots ,{\theta }^{d-1}$, the valuations of $b_j{\theta }^j$ are distinct modulo $d$, so an integral linear combination has every $b_j\in A$. This proves the integer-ring assertion. Conversely, a uniformizer in a totally ramified extension generates the field, and its minimal polynomial is Eisenstein; this follows from its value $1/d$, equal valuations of its conjugates, and the valuation one of its norm.

For a monogenic separable integer ring $A[\theta ]$, the different ideal is generated by $f^{\prime }(\theta )$. For a Galois extension, the different exponent from ramification groups isIn the totally ramified case these agree directly: $f^{\prime }({\pi }_L)={\prod }_{\sigma \ne 1}({\pi }_L-\sigma {\pi }_L)$, and an automorphism with displacement valuation $h$ contributes once to each of $G_0,\dots ,G_{h-1}$.

Upper numbering. Extend the lower indexing to real $s\ge 0$ by $G_s=G_{\lceil s\rceil }$, and setOn $[-1,0]$ take $\phi (s)=s$. This Herbrand function slows the indexing as the groups shrink. Lower numbering is compatible with subgroups, while upper ramification numbering is compatible with quotients: for normal $H$, $(G/H{)}^u=G^{u}H/H$. This is the fact that upper ramification groups commute with quotients. Thus upper breaks are particularly useful when comparing intermediate Galois extensions.

The eighth-root cyclotomic extension. Put $\zeta ={\zeta }_8$ and $\pi =\zeta -1$. The shifted cyclotomic polynomialis Eisenstein at two. Hence $L={\mathbb{Q}}_2(\zeta )$ is totally ramified of degree four, $v_L(2)=4$, and $\pi$ is a uniformizer. Its Galois group consists of ${\sigma }_a(\zeta )={\zeta }^a$ for $a=1,3,5,7$, and is $C_2\times C_2$.

Since $\zeta$ is a unit,For $a=3,7$, this is the valuation of $i-1$ or $-i-1$, namely two, because their squares are units times two. For $a=5$, it is $v_L(-2)=4$. The ramification groups of the eighth-root cyclotomic extension of the 2-adic field are thereforeThe lower breaks are one and three, andThus the upper breaks are one and two:The different exponent from ramification groups is $3+3+1+1=8$, agreeing with $v_L(4{\zeta }^3)=8$ from the derivative of $T^4+1$.

The cubic splitting field at three. Let ${\alpha }^3=2$, $\zeta ={\zeta }_3$, and putThe polynomialsare Eisenstein at three. They give totally ramified subextensions of degrees three and two. Their intersection is the base field, so $L={\mathbb{Q}}_3(\alpha ,\zeta )$ has degree six. Its ramification index is divisible by both three and two, hence equals six; therefore $L/{\mathbb{Q}}_3$ is totally ramified. It is the splitting field of $T^3-2$, with Galois group $S_3$.

Normalize $v_L$ so that $v_L(3)=6$. Then $v_L(\beta )=2$ and $v_L(\lambda )=3$, makinga uniformizer. Let $\sigma (\alpha )=\zeta \alpha ,\sigma (\zeta )=\zeta$ and $\tau (\alpha )=\alpha ,\tau (\zeta )={\zeta }^2$. They generate $S_3$. Since $\tau (\lambda )=(\zeta +1)\lambda$,For the order-three automorphism,Here $\alpha$ is a unit and $v_L(\zeta \alpha +1)=v_L(\sigma \beta )=2$. The same calculation gives valuation two for ${\sigma }^2$. The three transpositions are conjugate and the defining filtration is normal, so they all have displacement valuation one. The ramification groups of the splitting field of T3 minus 2 over Q3 areThe lower breaks are zero and one. Since $[G_0:G_s]=2$ for $0<s\le 1$,and the upper groups areThe different exponent from ramification groups is $5+2=7$. As an independent check, the cubic subfield has different exponent $v_{{\mathbb{Q}}_3(\alpha )}(3{\alpha }^2)=3$, and the quadratic extension above it is tame with different exponent one. Transitivity of the different ideal gives $1+2\cdot 3=7$, as required.