Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / ii / Paper 3 / 18H / c / Solution

Because $\mathrm{char}K=0$, the finite extension $M/K$ is separable. By the primitive element theorem, write $M=K(\theta )$. The minimal polynomial of $\theta$ over $K$ has a root in the algebraically closed field $L$, so sending $\theta$ to that root defines a $K$-field embedding $\iota :M\hookrightarrow L$.

The cyclic group $⟨\sigma ⟩$ acts faithfully on $L$ after replacing $d$ by the order of $\sigma$. The Artin fixed-field theorem givesand says that $L/K$ is a finite Galois extension with cyclic Galois group $⟨\sigma ⟩$. The image $E=\iota (M)$ is an intermediate field. Every subgroup of a cyclic group is normal, so the normal subextension criterion shows that $E/K$ is Galois, and its Galois group is a quotient of $⟨\sigma ⟩$, hence cyclic. Transporting this structure through $\iota$ proves that $M/K$ is Galois with cyclic Galois group. This is the finite extensions of the fixed field of a finite-order automorphism of an algebraically closed field theorem.

Algebraic closedness is necessary. Take $L=\mathbb{Q}$ and $\sigma =\mathrm{id}$, so $K=L^{\sigma }=\mathbb{Q}$, and let $M=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{2})$. The extension has degree three but is not normal, since the two nonreal roots of $X^3-2$ do not belong to $M$. It is therefore not Galois.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.