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Let $L/K$ be a finite extension of algebraic number fields of degree prime $p$. Is it true that the index $(U_K:\text{Norm}(U_L))$ divides $[L:K]$, where $U_K$ denotes the unit group and Norm denotes the ideal norm map of the relative extension of $L/K$?

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No, not necessarily. For example, you can take $K\neq \mathbb{Q}$ to be totally real, and take $L$ to be a quadratic CM extension of $K$ whose unit group is equal to that of $K$ (e.g. make sure that $L/K$ ramifies at some place that is not above $2\infty$). Then ${\rm Norm}(U_L) = U_K^2$, and the unit index is $2^{{\rm rk}U_K+1}>2$.

More generally, if $L/K$ is Galois with Galois group $G$, then the unit index is an invariant of the structure of $U_L$ as a Galois module. Suppose for example that $G$ has prime order $p$. Then the unit index depends only on the Galois module structure of $\mathbb{Z}_p\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}} U_L$ as a $\mathbb{Z}_p[G]$-module. If $K$ has no $p$-th roots of unity, then the latter is, in general, isomorphic to some number $r_1$ of copies of the trivial module $\mathbb{Z}_p$, some number of modules isomorphic to the augmentation ideal of $\mathbb{Z}_p[G]$, and a free module of some rank. Each copy of the trivial module contributes $p$ to the unit index, while the other two modules do not contribute, so that $(U_L:{\rm Norm}U_K)=p^{r_1}$. To determine $r_1$, i.e. to tell apart a free module of rank one from the direct sum of a trivial and an augmentation ideal, is difficult, in general (if I were to have to do this, I would in fact compute the unit index).

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  • $\begingroup$ I am so grateful for very useful your comments. But I guess for our subject , the statement is true. Indeed, I consider a special case that L is an S_3 -extension of Q and K it's unique quadratic subfield . If L is maginary, and K has no a primitive third root of unity, hence the index is 1, otherwise 1 or 3, right?? $\endgroup$ Commented May 19, 2017 at 12:08
  • $\begingroup$ But in case L is real, when the fundamental unit of K is not norm of any unit of L, I don't have any idea!! $\endgroup$ Commented May 19, 2017 at 12:10
  • $\begingroup$ @A.Maarefparvar: In the special case that $L/\mathbb{Q}$ is a real $S_3$-extension, my last paragraph applies to the relative extension, but you can also sometimes exploit the extra structure. Indeed, if you know the $\mathbb{Z}_3[S_3]$-module structure of $U_L$, then you also know the $\mathbb{Z}_3[C_3]$-module structure. For the $S_3$-structure, there are only finitely many possibilities, and they can sometimes be read off from the class numbers of the intermediate extensions. In particular, if a certain quotient of class numbers is equal to $1/9$, then you will know that the norm index... $\endgroup$
    – Alex B.
    Commented May 19, 2017 at 16:37
  • $\begingroup$ ...is $3$. For the details see arxiv.org/abs/0904.2416, particularly the table in Example 6.4, which lists the possible $\mathbb{Z}[S_3]$-module structure of $U_L$ and the corresponding value for a certain quotient of class numbers. $\endgroup$
    – Alex B.
    Commented May 19, 2017 at 16:39

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