Infinite Algebraic Extensions

Abstract

In this chapter, we investigate infinite Galois extensions and prove an analog of the fundamental theorem of Galois theory for infinite extensions. The key idea is to put a topology on the Galois group of an infinite dimensional Galois extension and then use this topology to determine which subgroups of the Galois group arise as Galois groups of intermediate extensions. We also give a number of constructions of infinite Galois extensions, constructions that arise in quadratic form theory, number theory, and Galois cohomology, among other places.