Polynomials with roots in ${\Bbb Q}_p$ for all $p$

Jack Sonn

Published 2006-12-18, updated 2007-01-28Version 4

Let $f(x)$ be a monic polynomial in $\dZ[x]$ with no rational roots but with roots in $\dQ_p$ for all $p$, or equivalently, with roots mod $n$ for all $n$. It is known that $f(x)$ cannot be irreducible but can be a product of two or more irreducible polynomials, and that if $f(x)$ is a product of $m>1$ irreducible polynomials, then its Galois group must be a union of conjugates of $m$ proper subgroups. We prove that for any $m>1$, every finite solvable group which is a union of conjugates of $m$ proper subgroups (where all these conjugates have trivial intersection) occurs as the Galois group of such a polynomial, and that the same result (with $m=2$) holds for all Frobenius groups. It is also observed that every nonsolvable Frobenius group is realizable as the Galois group of a geometric--i.e. regular-- extension of $\dQ(t)$.