On the Distribution of Norm Groups of Algebraic Number Fields

Abstract

Let X be a subgroup of a group Y. The \\emphinterval (X, Y) is the set of subgroups of Y that contain X including X and Y. By local class field theory the interval (N K/k K*, k*) contains a finite number of norm groups for any finite extension K of a 𝔭-adic number field k. In the present work we investigate the number of norm groups in the interval (N K/k K*, k*) for a given finite extension K/k of algebraic number fields. We prove that if K/k is an extension of prime degree, or of degree n such that the normal closure of K over k has the Galois group isomorphic to A n or S n , then the interval (N K/k K*, k*) contains only the obvious two norm groups. Also, the interval (N K/k K*, k*) contains a finite number of norm groups for any Galois extension of degree 4, and there are extensions with Galois groups order 8 for which the corresponding intervals contain a finite number of norm groups. The main theorem in our earlier work states that the interval (N K/k K*, k*) contains infinitely many norm groups for any Galois extension of even degree that is not a 2-extension, the so-called 2𝔫-\\emphextensions. In the present work we generalize the main theorem to non-Galois 2𝔫-extensions K/k, and determine some subintervals of (N K/k K*, k*) that contain infinitely many norm groups. We then use this theorem to prove that the interval (N K/k K*, k*) contains infinitely many norm groups for any Galois 2-extension K/k with the Galois group that either contains an element of order 8 or contains the quaternion group Q8 of order 8, or Q8 is a homomorphic image of the Galois group.