English

Decomposing the Diagonals of Invariant Fields

Algebraic Geometry 2025-08-28 v2

Abstract

This work begins the process of using the decomposition of the diagonal as a tool for studying the rationality of invariant fields of finite groups GG. Our ground field must be characteristic 0 because of the use we make of Bertini theorems. The steps we take are, first, defining and studying an "open" version of Chow zero. Second, we use this to translate our study to that of a Chow group of GG Galois extensions. We prove a "Sylow" property and thereby yield a connection between the invariants of GG and that of its Sylow subgroups. In particular, we show that if GG is a finite group with pp Sylow subgroup PP, VV is a faithful GG module, and F(V)PF(V)^P has nontrivial unramified cohomology, then F(V)GF(V)^G is not retract rational. Finally, we prove Sylow type theorems for decomposition of the diagonal and the centers of generic division algebras.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.18471,
  title  = {Decomposing the Diagonals of Invariant Fields},
  author = {David J Saltman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.18471},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

The result 6.6b) has been questioned by a very credible reader. Until this is sorted out, I am withdrawing