# Non-cyclotomic abelian extensions

Suppose $L|\mathbb{Q}$ is an abelian extension of number fields. Then, all the roots of unity are certainly contained in the maximal abelian extension $L^{ab}$ of $L$. Why is it obvious that if $L \ne \mathbb{Q}$ then $L^{ab} \ne \mathbb{Q}^{ab}$.

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What prevents $L$ from having an abelian extension which is not even galoisian over $\mathbf{Q}$, let alone abelian over $\mathbf{Q}$ ? Consider for example quadratic extensions of quadratic extensions. –  Chandan Singh Dalawat Nov 19 '12 at 5:08
Thanks Chandan! I guess the argument you had in mind is the same as the one below. –  LMN Nov 19 '12 at 5:27
Related post: mathoverflow.net/questions/85775/… –  KConrad Nov 19 '12 at 7:08
Thanks for the link Keith. I think the comments of Lavender Honey and SGP there give a reasonably complete answer. Let P a prime of $\mathbb{Q}$ split in $L$, and consider a quadratic extension $K$ of $L$ ramified at one prime $\mathcal{P}$ over $P$ but not at another $\mathcal{P}'|P$. Suppose $K \subset L*\mathbb{Q}(\mu_\infty)$, then $K$ is obtained by adjoining some element $\alpha \in \mathbb{Q}(\mu_\infty)$ to $L$. However, looking locally at primes of $L(\alpha)$ over $P$ we see that all the local extensions are the same (infact, they are all $Q_p(\alpha)$)$. But, this is diff. from K|L – LMN Nov 19 '12 at 17:13 ## 1 Answer Pick some$\gamma_1\in L\setminus\mathbb Q$which is not a square. Pick some$\gamma\in L^\times/(L^\times)^2$which is not fixed by$\operatorname{Gal}(L/\mathbb Q)$and fix a lift$\gamma_1\in L$. Let$\gamma_1,\ldots,\gamma_n$be the orbit of$\gamma_1$under$\operatorname{Gal}(L/\mathbb Q)$. Then it is an easy exercise in Galois theory to show that: 1.$L(\sqrt{\gamma_1},\ldots,\sqrt{\gamma_n})/L$is Galois with abelian Galois group$\subseteq(\mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z)^n$. 2.$L(\sqrt{\gamma_1},\ldots,\sqrt{\gamma_n})/\mathbb Q$is Galois with nonabelian Galois group$\subseteq\operatorname{Gal}(L/\mathbb Q)\ltimes(\mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z)^n$. - Thanks unknown(google)! – LMN Nov 19 '12 at 5:26 In #2 is it really obvious that the extension is non-abelian? – LMN Nov 19 '12 at 5:32 Yes. It is easy to compute the action by conjugation of$\operatorname{Gal}(L/\mathbb Q)$on$(\mathbb Z/2 \mathbb Z)^n\$, and it is nontrivial. –  Will Sawin Nov 19 '12 at 5:43
I think this argument has a little hole. Consider an A4-extension K/Q of the rationals, let L be its cyclic cubic subfield, and F/L a quadratic extensions of F/L. If the square root of c in L generates F, then your argument predicts that c has an orbit of length 2 under the action of the cyclic Galois group of order 3. For getting rid of this problem you probably have to consider orbits in L^* modulo squares. –  Franz Lemmermeyer Nov 19 '12 at 5:53
@unknown: you're right, I did not see the inclusion signs. There is, by the way, a beautiful article by Waterhouse (The normal closures of certain Kummer extensions, Can. Math. Bull. 37, No.1, 133-139 (1994)) dealing with problems like this one. –  Franz Lemmermeyer Nov 19 '12 at 18:12