Algebraic closure

For other uses, see Closure (disambiguation).

In mathematics, particularly abstract algebra, an algebraic closure of a field K is an algebraic extension of K that is algebraically closed. It is one of many closures in mathematics.

Using Zorn's lemma, it can be shown that every field has an algebraic closure,[1][2][3] and that the algebraic closure of a field K is unique up to an isomorphism that fixes every member of K. Because of this essential uniqueness, we often speak of the algebraic closure of K, rather than an algebraic closure of K.

The algebraic closure of a field K can be thought of as the largest algebraic extension of K. To see this, note that if L is any algebraic extension of K, then the algebraic closure of L is also an algebraic closure of K, and so L is contained within the algebraic closure of K. The algebraic closure of K is also the smallest algebraically closed field containing K, because if M is any algebraically closed field containing K, then the elements of M that are algebraic over K form an algebraic closure of K.

The algebraic closure of a field K has the same cardinality as K if K is infinite, and is countably infinite if K is finite.[3]

Examples

Existence of an algebraic closure and splitting fields

Let S = \{ f_{\lambda} | \lambda \in \Lambda\} be the set of all monic irreducible polynomials in K[x]. For each f_{\lambda} \in S, introduce new variables u_{\lambda,1},\ldots,u_{\lambda,d} where d = {\rm degree}(f_{\lambda}). Let R be the polynomial ring over K generated by u_{\lambda,i} for all \lambda \in \Lambda and all i \leq {\rm degree}(f_{\lambda}). Write

f_{\lambda} - \prod_{i=1}^d (x-u_{\lambda,i}) = \sum_{j=0}^{d-1} r_{\lambda,j} \cdot x^j \in R[x]

with r_{\lambda,j} \in R. Let I be the ideal in R generated by the r_{\lambda,j}. Since I is strictly smaller than R, Zorn's lemma implies that there exists a maximal ideal M in R that contains I. Now the field R/M is an algebraic closure of K: every polynomial f_{\lambda} splits as the product of the x-(u_{\lambda,i} + M).

The same proof also shows that for any subset S of K[x], there exists a splitting field of S over K.

Separable closure

An algebraic closure Kalg of K contains a unique separable extension Ksep of K containing all (algebraic) separable extensions of K within Kalg. This subextension is called a separable closure of K. Since a separable extension of a separable extension is again separable, there are no finite separable extensions of Ksep, of degree > 1. Saying this another way, K is contained in a separably-closed algebraic extension field. It is unique (up to isomorphism).[5]

The separable closure is the full algebraic closure if and only if K is a perfect field. For example, if K is a field of characteristic p and if X is transcendental over K, K(X)(\sqrt[p]{X}) \supset K(X) is a non-separable algebraic field extension.

In general, the absolute Galois group of K is the Galois group of Ksep over K.[6]

See also

References

  1. McCarthy (1991) p.21
  2. M. F. Atiyah and I. G. Macdonald (1969). Introduction to commutative algebra. Addison-Wesley publishing Company. pp. 11-12.
  3. 1 2 Kaplansky (1972) pp.74-76
  4. Brawley, Joel V.; Schnibben, George E. (1989), "2.2 The Algebraic Closure of a Finite Field", Infinite Algebraic Extensions of Finite Fields, Contemporary Mathematics 95, American Mathematical Society, pp. 22–23, ISBN 978-0-8218-5428-0, Zbl 0674.12009.
  5. McCarthy (1991) p.22
  6. Fried, Michael D.; Jarden, Moshe (2008). Field arithmetic. Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete. 3. Folge 11 (3rd ed.). Springer-Verlag. p. 12. ISBN 978-3-540-77269-9. Zbl 1145.12001.
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