12 Different and discriminant

Notation. Let x1,…,xn∈L. Set

Δ(x1,…,xn)=det⁡(Tr⁡L∕K(xixj))∈K=det⁡(∑k=1nσk(xi)σk(xj))=det⁡(BB⊤⁡)

where σk:L→K¯ are distinct embeddings and B=(σi(xj)).

Note:

Lemma 12.1. Assuming that:

  • k a perfect field

  • R a k-algebra which is finite dimensional as a k-vector space

Then the Trace form (∙,∙):R×R→R(x,y)↦Tr⁡R∕k(xy)(:=Tr⁡k(mult⁡(xy)))

is non-degenerate if and only if R=k1×⋯×kr where ki∕k is a finite separable extension of k.

Proof. Example Sheet 3. □

Theorem 12.2. Assuming that:

  • 0≠𝔭⊆OK prime ideal

Then
  • (i) If 𝔭 ramifies in L, then for every x1,…,xn∈OL, we have Δ(x1,…,xn)≡0mod𝔭.
  • (ii) If 𝔭 is unramified in L, then there exists x1,…,xn such that 𝔭∤(Δ(x1,…,xn)).

Proof.

Definition 12.3 (Discriminant). The discriminant is the ideal dL∕K⊆OK generated by Δ(x1,…,xn) for all choices of x1,…,xn∈OL.

Corollary 12.4. 𝔭 ramifies L if and only if 𝔭|dL∕K. In particular, only finitely many primes ramify in L.

Definition 12.5 (Inverse different). The inverse different is

DL∕K−1={y∈L:Tr⁡L∕K(xy)∈OK ∀⁡x∈OL},

an OL submodule of L.

Lemma 12.6. DL∕K−1 is a fractional ideal in L.

Proof. Let x1,…,xn∈OL a K-basis for L∕K. Set

d:=Δ(x1,…,xn)=det⁡(Tr⁡L∕K(xixj)),

which is non-zero since separable.

For x∈DL∕K−1 write x=∑⁡j=1rλjxj with λj∈K. We show λj∈1dOK. We have

Tr⁡L∕K(xxi)=∑j=1nλjTr⁡L∕K(xixj)∈OK.

Set Aij=Tr⁡L∕K(xixj). Multiplying by Adj⁡(A)∈Mn(OK), we get

d(λ1⋮λn)=Adj⁡(A)(Tr⁡L∕K(xx1)⋮⁡Tr⁡L∕K(xxn))

Since λi∈1dOK, we have x∈1dOL. Thus DL∕K−1≤1dOK, so DL∕K−1 is a fractional ideal. □

The inverse DL∕K of DL∕K−1 is the different ideal.

Remark. DL∕K≤OL since OL⊆DL∕K−1.

Let IL, IK be the groups of fractional ideals.

Theorem 9.7 gives that

IL≅⊗0≠Pprime ideals in OLℤ,IK≅⊗0≠Pprime ideals in OK.

Define NL∕K:IL→IK induced by P↦𝔭f for 𝔭=P∩OK and f=f(P∕𝔭).

Fact:

   ×
  L        IL

NN K ×      I
 LL∕K∕K         K
(Use Corollary 10.10 and v𝔭(NLP∕K𝔭(x))=fP∕𝔭v(x) for x∈msub× where v𝔭 and vP are the normalised valuations for LP, K𝔭).

Theorem 12.7. NL∕K(DL∕K)=dL∕K.

Proof. First assume OK, OL are PIDs. Let x1,…,xn be an OK-basis for OL and y1,…,yn be the dual basis with respect to trace form. Then y1,…,yn is a basis for DL∕K−1. Let σ1,…,σn:L→K¯ be the distinct embeddings. Have

∑i=1nσi(xj)σi(yk)=Tr⁡(xjyk)=δjk.

But

Δ(x1,…,xn)=det⁡(σi(xj))2.

Thus

Δ(x1,…,xn)Δ(y1,…,yn)=1.

Write DL∕K−1=βOL since β∈L. Then

dL∕K−1=(Δ(x1,…,xn)−1)=(Δ(y1,…,yn))=(Δ(βx1,…,βxn))change of basis matrix is invertible in OK=NL∕K(β2)Δ(x1,…,xn)change of basis matrix is [mult⁡(β)]

Thus

dL∕K−1=NL∕K(DL∕K−1)2dL∕K

so

NL∕K(DL∕K)=dL∕K.

In general, localise at S=OK∖𝔭 and use S−1DL∕K=DS−1OL∕S−1OK. Then S−1dL∕K=dS−1OL∕S−1OK. Details omitted. □

Theorem 12.8. Assuming that:

  • OL=OK[α]

  • α has monic minimal polynomial g(X)∈OK[X]

Then DL∕K=(g′(α)).

Proof. Let α=α1,…,αn be the roots of g. Write

g(X)X−α=βn−1Xn−1+⋯+β1X+β0

with βi∈OL and βn−1=1. We claim

∑i=1ng(X)X−αiαing′(αi)=Xr

for 0≤r≤n−1.

Indeed the difference is a palynomial of degree <n, which vanishes for X=α1,…,αn. Equate coefficients of Xs, which gives

Tr⁡L∕K(αrβsg′(α))=δrs.

Since 1,α,…,αn−1 is an OK basis for OL, DL∕K−1 has an OK basis

β0g′(α),β1g′(α),…,βn−1g′(α)⏟1g′(α).

Note all of these are OL multiples of the last term, since the βi are in OL. So DL∕K−1=1(g′(α)), hence DL∕K=(g′(α)). □

P a prime ideal of OL, 𝔭=OK∩P. DLP∕K𝔭 using OK𝔭, OLP. We identify DLP∕K𝔭 with a power P.

Theorem 12.9. DL∕K=∏⁡PDLP∕K𝔭 (finite product, see later).

Proof. Let x∈L, 𝔭⊆OK. Then

Tr⁡L∕K(x)=∑P|𝔭Tr⁡LP∕K𝔭(x)(∗)

(of Corollary 10.10).

Let r(P)=vP(DL∕K), s(P)=vP(DLP∕K𝔭).

Corollary 12.10. dL∕K=∏⁡P|𝔭dLP∕K𝔭.

Proof. Apply NL∕K to DL∕K=∏⁡P|𝔭DLP∕K𝔭. □