English

Splitting Behavior of $S_n$-Polynomials

Number Theory 2015-08-12 v3

Abstract

We analyze the probability that, for a fixed finite set of primes S, a random, monic, degree n polynomial f(x) with integer coefficients in a box of side B around 0 satisfies: (i) f(x) is irreducible over the rationals, with splitting field over the rationals having Galois group SnS_n; (ii) the polynomial discriminant Disc(f) is relatively prime to all primes in S; (iii) f(x) has a prescribed splitting type at each prime p in S. The limit probabilities as BB \to \infty are described in terms of values of a one-parameter family of measures on SnS_n, called splitting measures, with parameter zz evaluated at the primes p in S. We study properties of these measures. We deduce that there exist degree n extensions of the rationals with Galois closure having Galois group SnS_n with a given finite set of primes S having given Artin symbols, with some restrictions on allowed Artin symbols for p<n. We compare the distributions of these measures with distributions formulated by Bhargava for splitting probabilities for a fixed prime pp in such degree nn extensions ordered by size of discriminant, conditioned to be relatively prime to pp.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1408.6251,
  title  = {Splitting Behavior of $S_n$-Polynomials},
  author = {Jeffrey C. Lagarias and Benjamin L. Weiss},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1408.6251},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

33 pages, v2 34 pages, introduction revised

R2 v1 2026-06-22T05:40:48.649Z