Unramified extension

A finite extension of local fields is unramified when its ramification index is one and its residue-field degree equals the field degree. A local field has a unique unramified extension of each positive degree inside a fixed algebraic closure.

For non-Archimedean local fields, let $L/K$ be an unramified extension of degree $f$, and let $E/K$ be finite. The degree-$f$ unramified extension of $E$ has a residue field containing the degree-$f$ residue extension of $K$. Lift an integral residue generator of $L$ into that field by Hensel lemma. This embeds $L$ into an unramified extension of $E$, so $LE/E$ is an unramified subextension. Applying this argument to each completion of a number field at a prime ideal proves the finite-prime assertion for number fields, even when $E/K$ is ramified.

For an unramified extension $L/K$ of non-Archimedean local fields and any finite extension $M/K$, reduction is a bijection between $K$-field homomorphisms $L\to M$ and $k_K$-field homomorphisms $k_L\to k_M$. Choose an integral generator with separable irreducible reduction. Each specified residue image lifts uniquely to a root in $M$ by Hensel lemma. Conversely a $K$-embedding preserves the unique extended valuation and therefore induces the residue embedding. The same argument applies when $M$ is any non-Archimedean local extension with the given compatible embedding of $K$.

A finite extension of complete discretely valued fields is unramified exactly when it has an integral generator whose reduced minimal polynomial of an algebraic element is separable. In one direction, lift a residue-field primitive element. In the other, the factorization form of Hensel's lemma makes the separable reduction irreducible, forcing residue degree to equal the entire extension degree.

For an unramified extension of local fields $L/K$, an integral element whose residue generates $k_L/k_K$ generates $L/K$: its degree is at least the residue degree $f=[L:K]$. The reduced powers $1,\bar{\alpha },\dots ,{\bar{\alpha }}^{f-1}$ are a basis of the residue field extension. If $x=\sum c_j{\alpha }^j$, factor out a coefficient of least valuation. Reduction of the remaining sum is nonzero by that residue basis, so $v_L(x)={\min }_j{v}_K(c_j)$. Consequently $x$ is integral exactly when all $c_j$ are integral.

Let $L/K$ be a finite unramified extension of complete fields with a Non-Archimedean absolute value, with separable residue extension and $[L:K]=[k_L:k_K]=n$. If $x$ is integral and its residue generates $k_L/k_K$, then $1,x,\dots ,x^{n-1}$ form a $K$-basis. Divide any nonzero combination by a coefficient of largest absolute value. Its remaining coefficients are integral, at least one is a unit, and the residue-basis independence makes the reduction nonzero. The displayed norm formula follows. In particular, the combination is integral exactly when every coefficient is integral, proving ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathcal{O}}_K[x]$ without requiring a discrete valuation.

For a non-Archimedean local field $K$, every finite extension $\ell /k_K$ of its residue field is realized by an unramified extension of $K$, unique up to $K$-isomorphism. Lift the irreducible polynomial of a residue generator to a monic integral polynomial and adjoin a root. Its residue degree equals its field degree, forcing ramification index one. In any other such extension the Hensel lemma lifts the same simple residue root, giving an isomorphism.

For a finite residue field $k$ of cardinality $q$, arithmetic Frobenius is $x\mapsto x^q$. Its lift generates the Galois group of a finite unramified extension; geometric Frobenius is its inverse.

In a finite Galois extension $L/K$, choose a prime ideal $\mathfrak{P}$ above an unramified $\mathfrak{p}$. The Frobenius automorphism at $\mathfrak{P}$ is characterized on its residue field by $x\mapsto x^{N\mathfrak{p}}$. Changing $\mathfrak{P}$ conjugates this element, so its conjugacy class is well-defined. It is the identity class exactly at a completely split prime.

Let a monic integer polynomial have distinct roots in its splitting field. Outside the finitely many primes dividing its polynomial discriminant or ramifying in that field, its roots reduce to distinct residue roots. The Frobenius automorphism permutes them by $a\mapsto a^p$; a reduced root belongs to ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ exactly when it is fixed. Distinctness of reduction identifies this with a fixed root of the Galois permutation itself. Combining this observation with a derangement in a transitive group action and the Chebotarev density theorem proves that an irreducible polynomial of degree at least two has rootless reduction at a positive Dirichlet density of primes. The degree bound is essential: every monic linear integer polynomial has a root modulo every prime.

The maximal unramified extension $K^{\mathrm{nr}}$ is the union of all finite unramified extensions of a non-Archimedean local field $K$. Its Galois group is canonically $\hat{\mathbb{Z}}$, generated topologically by Frobenius.

Every finite extension $L/K$ of non-Archimedean local fields has a unique intermediate field $K_0$ whose residue field is $k_L$ and for which $K_0/K$ is unramified. The extension $L/K_0$ is totally ramified.