C H A PT E R

VI
Ga l oi s T h eory
This chapter contains the core of Galois theory . We study the group of
automorphisms of a finite (and sometimes infinite) Galois extension at length ,
and give examples , such as cyclotomic extensions , abelian extensions , and
even
non-abelian ones , leading into the study of matrix representations of the
Galois
g roup and their classifications . We shall mention a number of fundamental
unsolved problems , the most notable of which is whether given a finite group
G , there exists a Galois extension of Q having this group as Galois group .
Three
surveys give recent points of view on those questions and sizeable
bibliographies:
B.
M A TZ AT ,
Konstruktive Galoistheorie , Springer Lecture Notes 1284 , 1 987
B . M ATZ AT , U ber das Umkehrproblem der Galoisschen Theorie , Jahrsbericht
Deutsch .
Mat. -Verein . 90 ( 1 98 8 ) , pp . 1 55- 1 83
J . P. SERRE , Topics in Galois theory, course at Harvard , 1 98 9 , Jones and
Bartlett ,
Boston 1 992
More specific references will be given in the text at the appropriate moment
concerning this problem and the problem of determining Galois groups over
specific fields , especially the rational numbers .
1 .
G A LO I S EXTE N S I O N S
Let K be a field and let G be a group of automorphisms of K. We denote
by K G the subset of K consisting of all elements x E K such that x a = x for all
a E G. It is also called the fixed field of G. It is a field because if x, y E K G then
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