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This is a question on algebraic geometry/commutative algebra. Let $K,L$ be fields of characteristics zero and let $K\subset L$ be a field extension (I am interested in the case when this is transcendental). Assume that there are elements $\sigma_1,\dots,\sigma_k\in{\rm Gal}(L/K)$ so that $K=\{ a\in L\mid \forall i,\ \sigma_i(a)=a\}$.

We consider a polynomial ring $L[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ and an ideal $I$ of it. Assume $I$ is invariant by $\sigma_i$, i.e., the ideal $I_i:=\{ p^{\sigma_i}\mid p\in I\}$ is equal to $I$ for any $i$. Here, $p^{\sigma_i}$ is an element of $L[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ obtained from $p$ by replacement $ax^\alpha\mapsto \sigma_i(a)x^\alpha$ $(a\in L)$. Is it true that there exists an ideal $I_0\subset K[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ such that its extension $L\otimes_KI_0\subset L[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ is equal to $I$?

I do not know what this type of problem is called. I checked Hartshorne and found exercise 8 in Chap 2.Section 4 which is close to our setup. Unfortunately, it is when $L=\mathbb{C}$, $K=\mathbb{R}$ and $\sigma$ is the complex conjugate. I think the solution to this exercise relies on the fact that $\sigma$ is an involution so I do not know how to generalize it.

Background: I am interested in an affine variety defined over $L=\mathbb{C}(s)\supset \mathbb{C}=K$, where $s$ is a new variable. $\sigma:L\to L$ is the shift operator $s\mapsto s+1$. I guess that the statement above is true at least in this setup.

Thank you very much in advance.

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  • $\begingroup$ This is descent theory or more specifically Galois descent theory. There is a very readable exposition in Milne's Algebraic Geometry notes, Chapter 16 in jmilne.org/math/CourseNotes/ag.html. The pdf file is: jmilne.org/math/CourseNotes/AG16.pdf $\endgroup$
    – F Zaldivar
    Commented Mar 16 at 13:38
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you so much for the comment. Is the exact proposition I should read Proposition 16.8 of the note? Is there any "proper reference" on descent theory? I mean which paper/book do people refer to when they use it? $\endgroup$
    – S.J.
    Commented Mar 17 at 7:26

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A standard reference is Chapter 6 of "Neron Models" of Bosch, Lütkebohmert and Raynaud, Springer, 1990. The original Grothendieck's exposés in the Cartan Seminar (1960--1961) are available at Numdam: http://www.numdam.org/?lang=en. Milne's notes in https://www.jmilne.org/math/CourseNotes/AG16.pdf as I noted before are quite readable. Proposition 16.8 could be what you need, and the general case is in Section g. There is also an exposition in Section 4 of K. Conrad's https://kconrad.math.uconn.edu/blurbs/galoistheory/galoisdescent.pdf.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the very friendly guidance! I will refer to one of these standard texts! Indeed, Milne's exposition is also quite friendly! $\endgroup$
    – S.J.
    Commented Mar 18 at 7:15

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