Math 2.0

Number theory Definition

Frobenius element

Builds on Algebraic number fieldGalois extensionGalois groupDecomposition groupRamificationFrobenius automorphism of a finite fieldConjugacy classIdeal norm

Definition

Let L/KL/K be a finite Galois extension of algebraic number fields with Galois group GG, and let π’ͺKβŠ†π’ͺL\mathcal{O}_K \subseteq \mathcal{O}_L be the rings of integers. Let 𝔭\mathfrak{p} be a nonzero prime ideal of π’ͺK\mathcal{O}_K that is unramified in LL, and let 𝔓\mathfrak{P} be a prime ideal of π’ͺL\mathcal{O}_L over 𝔭\mathfrak{p}. Let q=N(𝔭)=∣π’ͺK/π”­βˆ£q = N(\mathfrak{p}) = \abs{\mathcal{O}_K/\mathfrak{p}} be the norm of 𝔭\mathfrak{p}. The Frobenius element of 𝔓\mathfrak{P} is the unique ΟƒβˆˆG\sigma \in G such that Οƒ(x)≑xq(mod𝔓)forΒ allΒ x∈π’ͺL.\sigma(x) \equiv x^{q} \pmod{\mathfrak{P}} \quad \text{for all } x \in \mathcal{O}_L. It is written Frob𝔓\mathrm{Frob}_{\mathfrak{P}} or (L/K𝔓)\left(\frac{L/K}{\mathfrak{P}}\right).

Remarks

Existence and uniqueness: such a Οƒ\sigma fixes 𝔓\mathfrak{P}, so it lies in the decomposition group D𝔓D_{\mathfrak{P}}. The map from D𝔓D_{\mathfrak{P}} to the Galois group of the residue extension is onto, with kernel the inertia group, which is trivial because 𝔭\mathfrak{p} is unramified. So exactly one element of D𝔓D_{\mathfrak{P}} maps to the Frobenius automorphism y↦yqy \mapsto y^q of the residue field. Frob𝔓\mathrm{Frob}_{\mathfrak{P}} generates D𝔓D_{\mathfrak{P}}, and its order is the residue degree ff.

For Ο„βˆˆG\tau \in G, FrobΟ„(𝔓)=τ Frobπ”“β€‰Ο„βˆ’1\mathrm{Frob}_{\tau(\mathfrak{P})} = \tau \, \mathrm{Frob}_{\mathfrak{P}} \, \tau^{-1}. So the Frobenius elements of the primes over 𝔭\mathfrak{p} form one conjugacy class Frob𝔭\mathrm{Frob}_{\mathfrak{p}} of GG; if GG is abelian, it is a single element, the Artin symbol of 𝔭\mathfrak{p}.

Example: K=β„šK = \Q, L=β„š(ΞΆn)L = \Q(\zeta_n) with ΞΆn\zeta_n a primitive nn-th root of unity, and pp a prime not dividing nn. The automorphism Οƒp\sigma_p with Οƒp(ΞΆn)=ΞΆnp\sigma_p(\zeta_n) = \zeta_n^p satisfies Οƒp(x)≑xp\sigma_p(x) \equiv x^p modulo every prime over pp, since (a+b)p≑ap+bp(a + b)^p \equiv a^p + b^p modulo pp; so Frobp=Οƒp\mathrm{Frob}_p = \sigma_p.

Non-example: in β„š(i)/β„š\Q(i)/\Q, the prime 22 is ramified. Both elements Οƒ\sigma of GG satisfy Οƒ(x)≑x2(mod(1+i))\sigma(x) \equiv x^2 \pmod{(1 + i)}, because the residue field is 𝔽2\F_2 and iβ‰‘βˆ’i≑1(mod(1+i))i \equiv -i \equiv 1 \pmod{(1+i)}; so there is no unique Frobenius element.

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  1. Algebraic number field concept
  2. Conjugacy class concept
  3. Decomposition group concept
  4. Frobenius automorphism of a finite field concept
  5. Galois extension concept
  6. Galois group concept
  7. Ideal norm concept
  8. Ramification concept
  9. Frobenius element definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frobenius_endomorphism
About this page
TagNWAEQJ75QM
URIm2://NWAEQJ75QM
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC11R32, 11R37
DefinesFrobenius element
UsesAlgebraic number field, Galois extension, Galois group, Decomposition group, Ramification, Frobenius automorphism of a finite field, Conjugacy class, Ideal norm
Changed2 November 2026

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