Skip to main content
deleted 1 character in body
Source Link
David E Speyer
  • 156.3k
  • 14
  • 421
  • 763

$\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\KK{\mathbb{K}}$I've been meaning for a while to come back and talk about the group theory of this situation. I'm going to use GH from MO's fixed formulation: For every place $u$ of $\QQ$, there should be a rational number $q_u$ such that $a/q_u$ is square in $\KK_v$ for all $v$ above $u$. Note that all of the examples of "No Hasse" principle in my other answer do not incorporate GH from MO's fix, and disappear once it is included.

I will assume that $\KK/\QQ$ is Galois, with Galois group $H$. Others are welcome to work out the non-Galois case. Assume that the local condition holds.

Observation: $\KK(\sqrt{a})$ is Galois over $\QQ$. Proof: It is equivalent to show, for any $\sigma \in H$, that $\sigma(a)/a$ is square in $\KK$. Let $u$ be a place of $\QQ$. Then there is a $q_u \in \QQ$, and elements $x_v \in \KK_v$ for each $v$ over $u$, such that $a = q_u x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. Then $\sigma(a) = q_u \sigma(x_v)^2$ in $\KK_{\sigma(v)}$. So $\sigma(a)/a = \sigma(x_{\sigma^{-1}(v)})^2/x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. So $\sigma(a)/a$ is locally a square everywhere and hence a square.

Let $G = \mathrm{Gal}(\KK(\sqrt{a})/\QQ)$. So we have a short exact sequence $$1 \to \mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}) \to G \to H \to 1 \ (\ast)$$ which, since $\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}))$ is trivial, must be a central extension.

We have $a = q x^2$, for $q \in \QQ$ and $x \in \KK$, if and only if $\KK(\sqrt{a}) = \KK(\sqrt{q})$. This happens if and only if the extension $(\ast)$ is split.

If $\# H$ is odd, then any central extension is split and we are done; the Hasse principle holds. This has been observed in other answers.

But the local hypothesis puts additional constraints on the sequence $(\ast)$. Suppose that $\\tau \in H$$\tau \in H$ has even order, and let $\sigma$ be a lift of $\tau$ to $G$. Let $(w,v,u)$ be a tower of places in $(\KK(\sqrt{a}), \KK, \QQ)$ respectively, with Frobenius elements $\sigma$ and $\tau$ corresponding to $w$ and $v$, and assume that $w$ is unramified with odd characteristic. Then $\KK_v:\QQ_u$ is even degree, unramified with odd residue characteristic, which means that all units of $\QQ_u$ is square in $\KK_v$. So $a$ is square in $\KK_v$, and we deduce that $\KK_v(\sqrt{a}) = \KK_v$. So $\sigma$ and $\tau$ have the same order. In short, we have shown:

If $\tau \in H$ has even order, and $\sigma$ is a lift of $\tau$ to $G$, then $\sigma$ has the same order as $\tau$. $(\dagger)$

There are many groups $H$ for which one check that $(\dagger)$ implies $(\ast)$ is split -- for example, cyclic groups, or $(\mathbb{Z}/2 \mathbb{Z})^n$. So that is a number more cases in which the Hasse principle holds.

However, $(\dagger)$ does not always imply splitting of $(\ast)$. The smallest example I can find is that $G$ is the $32$-element group $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 & \mathbb{Z}/2 \\ 0 & 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$ and $H$ is the quotient by $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$.

All nilpotent groups are realizable as Galois groups over $\mathbb{Q}$, so thiere is some tower $\KK(\sqrt{a})/\KK/\QQ$ which yields this group. And this $a$ will not be globally $q x^2$. Will it obey the local condition? At the unramified primes, yes. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is not split over $\QQ$, then $v$ splits further in $\KK(\sqrt{a})$, so $a$ is square in $\KK_v$. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is split over $\QQ$, then $\KK_v \cong \QQ_u$ and $\sigma(a)/a \in \QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$, so we can find some $q \in \QQ$ such that $\sigma(a) /q$ is in $\QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$.

I'm not sure about the ramified primes.

If someone understands enough about the constructive Galois problem to rig up an extension with this Galois group, it would be fun to see.

$\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\KK{\mathbb{K}}$I've been meaning for a while to come back and talk about the group theory of this situation. I'm going to use GH from MO's fixed formulation: For every place $u$ of $\QQ$, there should be a rational number $q_u$ such that $a/q_u$ is square in $\KK_v$ for all $v$ above $u$. Note that all of the examples of "No Hasse" principle in my other answer do not incorporate GH from MO's fix, and disappear once it is included.

I will assume that $\KK/\QQ$ is Galois, with Galois group $H$. Others are welcome to work out the non-Galois case. Assume that the local condition holds.

Observation: $\KK(\sqrt{a})$ is Galois over $\QQ$. Proof: It is equivalent to show, for any $\sigma \in H$, that $\sigma(a)/a$ is square in $\KK$. Let $u$ be a place of $\QQ$. Then there is a $q_u \in \QQ$, and elements $x_v \in \KK_v$ for each $v$ over $u$, such that $a = q_u x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. Then $\sigma(a) = q_u \sigma(x_v)^2$ in $\KK_{\sigma(v)}$. So $\sigma(a)/a = \sigma(x_{\sigma^{-1}(v)})^2/x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. So $\sigma(a)/a$ is locally a square everywhere and hence a square.

Let $G = \mathrm{Gal}(\KK(\sqrt{a})/\QQ)$. So we have a short exact sequence $$1 \to \mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}) \to G \to H \to 1 \ (\ast)$$ which, since $\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}))$ is trivial, must be a central extension.

We have $a = q x^2$, for $q \in \QQ$ and $x \in \KK$, if and only if $\KK(\sqrt{a}) = \KK(\sqrt{q})$. This happens if and only if the extension $(\ast)$ is split.

If $\# H$ is odd, then any central extension is split and we are done; the Hasse principle holds. This has been observed in other answers.

But the local hypothesis puts additional constraints on the sequence $(\ast)$. Suppose that $\\tau \in H$ has even order, and let $\sigma$ be a lift of $\tau$ to $G$. Let $(w,v,u)$ be a tower of places in $(\KK(\sqrt{a}), \KK, \QQ)$ respectively, with Frobenius elements $\sigma$ and $\tau$ corresponding to $w$ and $v$, and assume that $w$ is unramified with odd characteristic. Then $\KK_v:\QQ_u$ is even degree, unramified with odd residue characteristic, which means that all units of $\QQ_u$ is square in $\KK_v$. So $a$ is square in $\KK_v$, and we deduce that $\KK_v(\sqrt{a}) = \KK_v$. So $\sigma$ and $\tau$ have the same order. In short, we have shown:

If $\tau \in H$ has even order, and $\sigma$ is a lift of $\tau$ to $G$, then $\sigma$ has the same order as $\tau$. $(\dagger)$

There are many groups $H$ for which one check that $(\dagger)$ implies $(\ast)$ is split -- for example, cyclic groups, or $(\mathbb{Z}/2 \mathbb{Z})^n$. So that is a number more cases in which the Hasse principle holds.

However, $(\dagger)$ does not always imply splitting of $(\ast)$. The smallest example I can find is that $G$ is the $32$-element group $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 & \mathbb{Z}/2 \\ 0 & 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$ and $H$ is the quotient by $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$.

All nilpotent groups are realizable as Galois groups over $\mathbb{Q}$, so thiere is some tower $\KK(\sqrt{a})/\KK/\QQ$ which yields this group. And this $a$ will not be globally $q x^2$. Will it obey the local condition? At the unramified primes, yes. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is not split over $\QQ$, then $v$ splits further in $\KK(\sqrt{a})$, so $a$ is square in $\KK_v$. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is split over $\QQ$, then $\KK_v \cong \QQ_u$ and $\sigma(a)/a \in \QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$, so we can find some $q \in \QQ$ such that $\sigma(a) /q$ is in $\QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$.

I'm not sure about the ramified primes.

If someone understands enough about the constructive Galois problem to rig up an extension with this Galois group, it would be fun to see.

$\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\KK{\mathbb{K}}$I've been meaning for a while to come back and talk about the group theory of this situation. I'm going to use GH from MO's fixed formulation: For every place $u$ of $\QQ$, there should be a rational number $q_u$ such that $a/q_u$ is square in $\KK_v$ for all $v$ above $u$. Note that all of the examples of "No Hasse" principle in my other answer do not incorporate GH from MO's fix, and disappear once it is included.

I will assume that $\KK/\QQ$ is Galois, with Galois group $H$. Others are welcome to work out the non-Galois case. Assume that the local condition holds.

Observation: $\KK(\sqrt{a})$ is Galois over $\QQ$. Proof: It is equivalent to show, for any $\sigma \in H$, that $\sigma(a)/a$ is square in $\KK$. Let $u$ be a place of $\QQ$. Then there is a $q_u \in \QQ$, and elements $x_v \in \KK_v$ for each $v$ over $u$, such that $a = q_u x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. Then $\sigma(a) = q_u \sigma(x_v)^2$ in $\KK_{\sigma(v)}$. So $\sigma(a)/a = \sigma(x_{\sigma^{-1}(v)})^2/x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. So $\sigma(a)/a$ is locally a square everywhere and hence a square.

Let $G = \mathrm{Gal}(\KK(\sqrt{a})/\QQ)$. So we have a short exact sequence $$1 \to \mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}) \to G \to H \to 1 \ (\ast)$$ which, since $\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}))$ is trivial, must be a central extension.

We have $a = q x^2$, for $q \in \QQ$ and $x \in \KK$, if and only if $\KK(\sqrt{a}) = \KK(\sqrt{q})$. This happens if and only if the extension $(\ast)$ is split.

If $\# H$ is odd, then any central extension is split and we are done; the Hasse principle holds. This has been observed in other answers.

But the local hypothesis puts additional constraints on the sequence $(\ast)$. Suppose that $\tau \in H$ has even order, and let $\sigma$ be a lift of $\tau$ to $G$. Let $(w,v,u)$ be a tower of places in $(\KK(\sqrt{a}), \KK, \QQ)$ respectively, with Frobenius elements $\sigma$ and $\tau$ corresponding to $w$ and $v$, and assume that $w$ is unramified with odd characteristic. Then $\KK_v:\QQ_u$ is even degree, unramified with odd residue characteristic, which means that all units of $\QQ_u$ is square in $\KK_v$. So $a$ is square in $\KK_v$, and we deduce that $\KK_v(\sqrt{a}) = \KK_v$. So $\sigma$ and $\tau$ have the same order. In short, we have shown:

If $\tau \in H$ has even order, and $\sigma$ is a lift of $\tau$ to $G$, then $\sigma$ has the same order as $\tau$. $(\dagger)$

There are many groups $H$ for which one check that $(\dagger)$ implies $(\ast)$ is split -- for example, cyclic groups, or $(\mathbb{Z}/2 \mathbb{Z})^n$. So that is a number more cases in which the Hasse principle holds.

However, $(\dagger)$ does not always imply splitting of $(\ast)$. The smallest example I can find is that $G$ is the $32$-element group $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 & \mathbb{Z}/2 \\ 0 & 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$ and $H$ is the quotient by $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$.

All nilpotent groups are realizable as Galois groups over $\mathbb{Q}$, so thiere is some tower $\KK(\sqrt{a})/\KK/\QQ$ which yields this group. And this $a$ will not be globally $q x^2$. Will it obey the local condition? At the unramified primes, yes. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is not split over $\QQ$, then $v$ splits further in $\KK(\sqrt{a})$, so $a$ is square in $\KK_v$. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is split over $\QQ$, then $\KK_v \cong \QQ_u$ and $\sigma(a)/a \in \QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$, so we can find some $q \in \QQ$ such that $\sigma(a) /q$ is in $\QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$.

I'm not sure about the ramified primes.

If someone understands enough about the constructive Galois problem to rig up an extension with this Galois group, it would be fun to see.

Source Link
David E Speyer
  • 156.3k
  • 14
  • 421
  • 763

$\def\QQ{\mathbb{Q}}\def\KK{\mathbb{K}}$I've been meaning for a while to come back and talk about the group theory of this situation. I'm going to use GH from MO's fixed formulation: For every place $u$ of $\QQ$, there should be a rational number $q_u$ such that $a/q_u$ is square in $\KK_v$ for all $v$ above $u$. Note that all of the examples of "No Hasse" principle in my other answer do not incorporate GH from MO's fix, and disappear once it is included.

I will assume that $\KK/\QQ$ is Galois, with Galois group $H$. Others are welcome to work out the non-Galois case. Assume that the local condition holds.

Observation: $\KK(\sqrt{a})$ is Galois over $\QQ$. Proof: It is equivalent to show, for any $\sigma \in H$, that $\sigma(a)/a$ is square in $\KK$. Let $u$ be a place of $\QQ$. Then there is a $q_u \in \QQ$, and elements $x_v \in \KK_v$ for each $v$ over $u$, such that $a = q_u x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. Then $\sigma(a) = q_u \sigma(x_v)^2$ in $\KK_{\sigma(v)}$. So $\sigma(a)/a = \sigma(x_{\sigma^{-1}(v)})^2/x_v^2$ in $\KK_v$. So $\sigma(a)/a$ is locally a square everywhere and hence a square.

Let $G = \mathrm{Gal}(\KK(\sqrt{a})/\QQ)$. So we have a short exact sequence $$1 \to \mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}) \to G \to H \to 1 \ (\ast)$$ which, since $\mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{Z}/(2 \mathbb{Z}))$ is trivial, must be a central extension.

We have $a = q x^2$, for $q \in \QQ$ and $x \in \KK$, if and only if $\KK(\sqrt{a}) = \KK(\sqrt{q})$. This happens if and only if the extension $(\ast)$ is split.

If $\# H$ is odd, then any central extension is split and we are done; the Hasse principle holds. This has been observed in other answers.

But the local hypothesis puts additional constraints on the sequence $(\ast)$. Suppose that $\\tau \in H$ has even order, and let $\sigma$ be a lift of $\tau$ to $G$. Let $(w,v,u)$ be a tower of places in $(\KK(\sqrt{a}), \KK, \QQ)$ respectively, with Frobenius elements $\sigma$ and $\tau$ corresponding to $w$ and $v$, and assume that $w$ is unramified with odd characteristic. Then $\KK_v:\QQ_u$ is even degree, unramified with odd residue characteristic, which means that all units of $\QQ_u$ is square in $\KK_v$. So $a$ is square in $\KK_v$, and we deduce that $\KK_v(\sqrt{a}) = \KK_v$. So $\sigma$ and $\tau$ have the same order. In short, we have shown:

If $\tau \in H$ has even order, and $\sigma$ is a lift of $\tau$ to $G$, then $\sigma$ has the same order as $\tau$. $(\dagger)$

There are many groups $H$ for which one check that $(\dagger)$ implies $(\ast)$ is split -- for example, cyclic groups, or $(\mathbb{Z}/2 \mathbb{Z})^n$. So that is a number more cases in which the Hasse principle holds.

However, $(\dagger)$ does not always imply splitting of $(\ast)$. The smallest example I can find is that $G$ is the $32$-element group $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 & \mathbb{Z}/2 \\ 0 & 1 & \mathbb{Z}/4 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$ and $H$ is the quotient by $\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{smallmatrix} \right)$.

All nilpotent groups are realizable as Galois groups over $\mathbb{Q}$, so thiere is some tower $\KK(\sqrt{a})/\KK/\QQ$ which yields this group. And this $a$ will not be globally $q x^2$. Will it obey the local condition? At the unramified primes, yes. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is not split over $\QQ$, then $v$ splits further in $\KK(\sqrt{a})$, so $a$ is square in $\KK_v$. If $v$ is a place of $\KK$ which is split over $\QQ$, then $\KK_v \cong \QQ_u$ and $\sigma(a)/a \in \QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$, so we can find some $q \in \QQ$ such that $\sigma(a) /q$ is in $\QQ_u^2$ for every $\sigma$.

I'm not sure about the ramified primes.

If someone understands enough about the constructive Galois problem to rig up an extension with this Galois group, it would be fun to see.