# p-adic expansion of roots of unity [closed]

Let $$w$$ be an n-th root of unity, I have two questions

1) What are the conditions on the prime $$p$$ such that $$w\in \mathbb{Z}_p$$, and if it is the case what is the p-adic expansion of an n-th root of unity in that case (do we have a closed formula of this expansion)

2) What about the other cases i.e when $$w$$ does not belong to $$\mathbb{Z}_p$$ and belongs to a finite extension of $$\mathbb{Q}_p$$, do we have an expression in terms of generators of this extension.

• I think this question is more suited to math.stackexchange.com. But briefly, you can find what you need in most books about $p$-adic numbers. For example, have a look at Gouvea's "p-adic Numbers: An introduction" book. Specifically, Proposition 3.4.2. Aug 14 '19 at 9:55
– wkm
Aug 14 '19 at 10:00
• No, what I'm saying is that you can find the coefficients, in a explicit way, by solving the equation modulo higher powers of $p$. Have a think of how to do this (or look at the book). So, if you know how to solve equations modulo some power of $p$ then you know how to find your coefficients. Aug 14 '19 at 10:43
• Another approach, 143983, is to post to mathstackexchange, as has been suggested to you. But be sure to include everything you already know about the question, or else it will get closed, and be sure to include your objections to Hensel, or else you'll have to go through this all over again. Aug 14 '19 at 13:17
• I've had interest in algebraic $p$-adic expansions using $p^\mathbb{Q}$ e.g. $\sqrt{-1}=1+2^{1/2}+2^{3/4}+2^{7/8}+ ... + \zeta_{3}2 + ...$ Aug 14 '19 at 16:00

For $$p$$ odd

• $$\Bbb{Z}_p^\times = \langle\zeta_{p-1}\rangle \times (1+p)^{\Bbb{Z}_p}$$ where $$\zeta_{p-1} = \lim_{n \to \infty} g^{p^n}$$ for $$g \in \Bbb{Z}$$ of order $$p-1$$ in $$\Bbb{Z}/p\Bbb{Z}$$.

• If $$K/\Bbb{Q}_p$$ is a finite extension whose residue field is $$O_K/(\pi) \cong \Bbb{F}_{p^f}$$ then take $$g\in O_K$$ of order $$p^f-1$$ modulo $$(\pi)$$ you'll have $$\zeta_{p^f-1} = \lim_{n \to \infty} g^{p^{fn}}$$.

• For $$p \nmid m$$ let $$f$$ be the order of $$p \bmod m$$, $$O_{\Bbb{Q}_p(\zeta_{p^f-1})}=O_{\Bbb{Q}_p(\zeta_m)}= \sum_{l=0}^{f-1} \zeta_m^l\Bbb{Z}_p$$, it is a complete DVR with uniformizer $$p$$ of valuation $$1$$ and residue field $$\Bbb{F}_{p^f}$$. For the Galois actions you might prefer a normal basis for $$\Bbb{F}_{p^f}/\Bbb{F}_p$$.

• $$O_{\Bbb{Q}_p(\zeta_m,\zeta_{p^r})} =\sum_{m=0}^{(p-1)p^{r-1}-1}(\zeta_{p^r}-1)^m O_{\Bbb{Q}_p(\zeta_m)}$$ with uniformizer $$\zeta_{p^r}-1$$ of valuation $$(p-1)p^{r-1}$$ and residue field $$\Bbb{F}_{p^f}$$. In particular $$\Bbb{Q}_p(\zeta_{p^r})/\Bbb{Q}_p$$ is totally ramified of degree $$(p-1)p^{r-1}$$.

Knowing a finite extension of $$\Bbb{Q}_p$$ means knowing its uniformizer, residue field and how the Galois group acts on both.

• I'm looking for the general expression of coefficients!
– wkm
Aug 14 '19 at 15:55
• That's the general expression. The "coefficients" of what ? ${}{}$ Aug 14 '19 at 16:00
• of the p-adic expansion of a given n-th root of unity as in David Lampert comment six minutes ago
– wkm
Aug 14 '19 at 16:06
• I gave it : it is $\zeta = g^{p^n} \bmod p^n$. Do you understand that $p$-adic series and $p$-adic limit is the same ? Aug 14 '19 at 16:08
• There isn’t a formula for the digits of a root of unity, any more than there’s a formula for the real digits of $\sqrt2$. But you can start with any integer $n$ prime to $p$, and go $z_0=n\mapsto n^p=z_1$ and then $z_n\mapsto z_n^p=z_{n+1}$. You get more digit with each iteration. The limit is the root of unity $\equiv n\pmod p$. Aug 14 '19 at 16:58