Minimal Polynomial of Element with Finite Orbit under Group of Automorphisms over Fixed Field in terms of Orbit

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Theorem

Let $E$ be a field.

Let $G \le \Aut E$ be a subgroup of its automorphism group.

Let $F = \map {\operatorname {Fix_E} } G$ be its fixed field.

Let $\alpha \in E$ have a finite orbit under $G$.


Then $\alpha$ is algebraic over $F$ and the product of polynomials

$\ds \map p x = \prod_{\beta \mathop \in \Lambda} \paren {x - \beta}$

is the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$ over $F$.


Proof

By Product over Finite Set with Zero Factor, we have $\map p \alpha = 0$.

By definition, $p \in E \sqbrk x$.


$p$ has coefficients in $F$

We show that $p \in F \sqbrk x$.

Let $\sigma \in G$, and denote the induced automorphism of $E[x]$ still by $\sigma$.

We show that $\map \sigma p = p$.

We have:

\(\ds \map \sigma p\) \(=\) \(\ds \prod_{\beta \mathop \in \Lambda} \map \sigma {x - \beta}\) Ring Homomorphism Commutes with Product over Finite Set
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \prod_{\beta \mathop \in \Lambda} \paren {x - \map \sigma \beta}\) Definition of Induced Automorphism of Polynomial Ring
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \prod_{\beta \mathop \in \Lambda} \paren {x - \beta}\) Group Element Permutes Orbit under Group of Permutations, Change of Variables in Product over Finite Set
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds p\)

Because this is true for all $\sigma \in G$, indeed the coefficients of $p$ are in $\Fix G = F$.

Thus $p \in F \sqbrk x$.


$p$ is the minimal polynomial

By Product of Monic Polynomials is Monic, $p$ is monic.

In particular, $p$ is nonzero.

Thus $\alpha$ is algebraic over $F$.

Let $f$ be its minimal polynomial over $F$.

We show that $f = p$.

By definition and because $\map p \alpha = 0$, $f$ divides $p$.

By Group of Automorphisms is Contained in Automorphism Group over Fixed Field, $G \le \Aut {E/F}$.

By Automorphism Group of Field Extension Permutes Roots of Minimal Polynomial, each $\beta \in \Lambda$ is a root of $f$.

By Polynomial Factor Theorem, each $x - \beta$ divides $f$.

By Product of Pairwise Coprime Divisors of Polynomial over Field is Divisor, $p$ divides $f$.

By Monic Polynomials are Equal iff Divide Each Other, $p = f$.

$\blacksquare$

Retrieved from "https://proofwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Minimal_Polynomial_of_Element_with_Finite_Orbit_under_Group_of_Automorphisms_over_Fixed_Field_in_terms_of_Orbit&oldid=552846"