# Supersolvable descent for rational points

Yonatan Harpaz, Olivier Wittenberg

► To cite this version:

Yonatan Harpaz, Olivier Wittenberg. Supersolvable descent for rational points. Algebra & Number Theory, 2024, 18 (4), pp.787-814. 10.2140/ant.2024.18.787. hal-03714606

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https://hal.science/hal-03714606v1

Submitted on 19 Sep 2024

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Algebra &
Number
Theory

Volume 18
2024
No. 4

Supersolvable descent for rational points

Yonatan Harpaz and Olivier Wittenberg
# Supersolvable descent for rational points

Yonatan Harpaz and Olivier Wittenberg

We construct an analogue of the classical descent theory of Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc in which algebraic tori are replaced with finite supersolvable groups. As an application, we show that rational points are dense in the Brauer–Manin set for smooth compactifications of certain quotients of homogeneous spaces by finite supersolvable groups. For suitably chosen homogeneous spaces, this implies the existence of supersolvable Galois extensions of number fields with prescribed norms, generalising work of Frei, Loughran and Newton.

## 1. Introduction

Let $X$ be a smooth and irreducible variety over a number field $k$. The study of rational points on $X$ often begins by embedding the set $X(k)$ diagonally into the product $X(k_{\Omega}) = \prod_{v \in \Omega} X(k_v)$, where $\Omega$ denotes the set of places of $k$ and $k_v$ denotes the completion of $k$ at $v$. We endow $X(k_{\Omega})$ with the product of the $v$-adic topologies. The weak approximation property, that is, the density of $X(k)$ in $X(k_{\Omega})$, frequently fails. Following Manin [1971], one can attempt to explain such failures by considering the Brauer–Manin set $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$, defined as the set of elements of $X(k_{\Omega})$ that are orthogonal, with respect to the Brauer–Manin pairing, to the unramified Brauer group $\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)$ of $X$. We recall that $\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)$ is the subgroup of $\text{Br}(X)$ formed by those classes that extend to any (equivalently, to some) smooth compactification of $X$, and that the Brauer–Manin set $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$ is a closed subset of $X(k_{\Omega})$ that satisfies the inclusions $X(k) \subseteq X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} \subseteq X(k_{\Omega})$; see [Skorobogatov 2001, §5.2]. A conjecture of Colliot-Thélène predicts that the Brauer–Manin set is enough to fully account for the gap between the topological closure of $X(k)$ and $X(k_{\Omega})$ when $X$ is rationally connected—that is, when for any algebraically closed field extension $K$ of $k$, two general $K$-points of $X$ can be joined by a rational curve over $K$:

**Conjecture 1.1** [Colliot-Thélène 2003]. Let $X$ be a smooth and rationally connected variety over a number field $k$. The set $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$.

Though this conjecture is wide open in general, it has been established in several special cases. One approach is via the theory of descent developed by Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc. To explain it, let us assume for the moment that $X$ is proper. Given an algebraic torus $T$ over $k$, this theory considers torsors $Y \to X$ under $T$. The type of such a torsor is the isomorphism class of the torsor obtained from it by extending the

MSC2020: primary 11G35, 14G05, 14G12; secondary 12F12.

Keywords: rational points, descent, inverse Galois problem.
scalsars from $k$ to an algebraic closure $\bar{k}$ of $k$; a type, in this context, is defined to be an isomorphism class of torsors over $X_{\bar{k}}$, under $T_{\bar{k}}$, that is invariant under $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Torsors $Y \to X$ under $T$ are classified, up to isomorphism, by the étale cohomology group $H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X, T)$, and types are the elements of the abelian group $H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}})^{\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)}$. As $X$ is proper, these groups fit into the exact sequence

$$ H^1(k, T) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X, T) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}})^{\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)} \to H^2(k, T) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^2(X, T) \quad (1-1) $$

induced by the Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence. As can be seen from this sequence, if a type comes from a torsor $Y \to X$ defined over $k$, then the isomorphism class of this torsor is unique up to a twist by an element of $H^1(k, T)$. In general, not every type comes from a torsor over $k$: the map $H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X, T) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}})^{\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)}$ need not be surjective. It is surjective if $X(k) \neq \emptyset$, as the map $H^2(k, T) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^2(X, T)$ then possesses a retraction.

The following foundational theorem fully describes the *algebraic Brauer–Manin set* $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X)}$ in terms of the arithmetic of torsors under a torus, of a given type, over $X$. By definition $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X)}$ is the subset of $X(k_{\Omega})$ consisting of those collections of local points that are orthogonal, with respect to the Brauer–Manin pairing, to the *algebraic unramified Brauer group* $\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X) = \mathrm{Ker}(\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X) \to \mathrm{Br}(X_{\bar{k}}))$.

**Theorem 1.2** [Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc 1987]. Let $X$ be a smooth, proper and geometrically irreducible variety over a number field $k$ such that $\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}})$ is torsion-free. Let $T$ be an algebraic torus over $k$. Let $\lambda \in H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}})^{\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)}$. Then

$$ X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X)} = \bigcup_{f:Y \to X} f(Y(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(Y)}), \quad (1-2) $$

where $f: Y \to X$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y \to X$ of type $\lambda$. In particular, if $Y(k)$ is a dense subset of $Y(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(Y)}$ for every torson $Y \to X$ of type $\lambda$, then $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X)}$.

As $X$ is assumed to be proper in Theorem 1.2, we have $\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X) = \mathrm{Br}_1(X)$. The group $\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(Y)$, on the other hand, may be smaller than $\mathrm{Br}_1(Y)$, since $Y$ is not proper.

It is by now understood that Theorem 1.2 still holds if $\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}})$ is allowed to contain torsion; see, e.g., [Wei 2016]. When $\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}})$ is torsion-free, however, there exists a privileged type of torsors over $X$: denoting by $T'$ the algebraic torus over $k$ with character group $\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}})$, there is a canonical isomorphism $H_{\bar{\epsilon}t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}}') = \mathrm{End}(\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}}'))$; the torsors $Y' \to X$ under $T'$ whose type is classified by the identity endomorphism of $\mathrm{Pic}(X_{\bar{k}})$ are called *universal torsors*. They enjoy the special property that $\mathrm{Pic}(Y_{\bar{k}}') = 0$. By the Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence, it follows that the natural map $\mathrm{Br}(k) \to \mathrm{Br}_1(Y')$ is surjective, so that $Y'(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(Y')} = Y'(k_{\Omega})$. As a consequence, Theorem 1.2 effectively reduces the statement that $X(k)$ is dense in $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{1,\mathrm{nr}}(X)}$ to the (in principle, simpler) weak approximation property for the universal torsors of $X$. This approach was fruitfully carried out in many special cases, notably for Châtelet surfaces in the influential two-part work [Colliot-Thélène et al. 1987a; 1987b], and later for various other types of varieties [Heath-Brown and Skorobogatov 2002; Colliot-Thélène et al. 2003; Browning and Matthiesen 2017; Browning et al. 2014; Derenthal et al. 2015; Skorobogatov 2015].
We note that even though Theorem 1.2 is stated and proved in [Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc 1987] only in the case of universal torsors, the general case follows. Indeed, for any $T$ and $\lambda$ as in Theorem 1.2, the type $\lambda$ determines a morphism $T' \to T$, so that any universal torsor $Y' \to X$ factors through a torsor $Y \to X$ of type $\lambda$, and the image of $Y'(k_{\Omega}) = Y'(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{1,nr}(Y')}$ in $Y(k_{\Omega})$ is then contained in $Y(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{1,nr}(Y)}$ by the projection formula.

The classical theory of descent of Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc allows one to neatly capture the algebraic part of the Brauer–Manin obstruction in terms of universal torsors and their local points. Formulated as above, it admits, however, a limitation: when the strategy consisting in applying Theorem 1.2 to verify Conjecture 1.1 for a given $X$ works, we find that a stronger claim than Conjecture 1.1 is in fact being proved, namely, the density of $X(k)$ not only in $X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(X)}$ but also in the larger set $X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{1,nr}(X)}$. The two sets $X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(X)}$ and $X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{1,nr}(X)}$ coincide for geometrically rational varieties, but among rationally connected varieties it does happen that $X(k)$ fails to be dense in the larger one (see [Harari 1996, §2] or [Demarche et al. 2017, Example 5.4]), thus limiting the scope of applicability of the method. A way to overcome this issue was suggested in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020], where the following variant of Theorem 1.2 is proved—to be precise, Theorem 1.3 results from combining [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 2.1] in the proper case with [Skorobogatov 2001, Theorem 6.1.2 (a)]:

**Theorem 1.3** [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020]. Let $X$ be a smooth, proper and geometrically irreducible variety over a number field $k$. Let $T$ be an algebraic torus over $k$. Let $\lambda \in H_{\ell t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, T_{\bar{k}})^{\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)}$. Then

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(X)} = \bigcup_{f:Y \to X} f(Y(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(Y)}), \qquad (1-3)$$

where $f:Y \to X$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y \to X$ of type $\lambda$. In particular, if $Y(k)$ is a dense subset of $Y(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(Y)}$ for every torsor $Y \to X$ of type $\lambda$, then $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_{\Omega})^{Br_{nr}(X)}$.

The theorems discussed so far admit generalisations to open varieties in which $X(k_{\Omega})$ is replaced with the space of adelic points $X(A_k)$, and $Br_{nr}(X)$ with the larger group $Br(X)$; for instance, Theorem 1.2 was generalised in the work of Wei [2016], which builds on [Skorobogatov 2001, Theorem 6.1.2] and on [Harari and Skorobogatov 2013, Proposition 8.12], and later in the work of Cao, Demarche and Xu [2019, Theorem 1.2]. We shall not consider such generalisations in this article. Theorems 1.2 and 1.3 can also be extended to open varieties while keeping focus on the set $X(k_{\Omega})$ and on the group $Br_{nr}(X)$. In particular, it follows from [Harari and Skorobogatov 2013, Proposition 8.12 and Corollary 8.17], from Harari’s “formal lemma” [Colliot-Thélène and Skorobogatov 2021, Theorem 13.4.3] and from [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 2.1], as in the proof of [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Corollaire 2.2], that the statements of Theorems 1.2 and 1.3 remain valid without the properness assumption, provided we assume, in the case of Theorem 1.3, that the quotient of $Br_{nr}(X)$ by the subgroup of constant classes is finite (as is the case when $X$ is rationally connected), and provided we replace, on the one hand, the notion of type due to Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc by that of extended type introduced by Harari and Skorobogatov [2013], and on the other hand, the right-hand sides of the asserted equalities by their topological closure in $X(k_{\Omega})$.
Thus, for instance, equation (1-3) becomes

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} = \overline{\bigcup_{f:Y \to X} f(Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)}),} \qquad (1-4)$$

where $\overline{M}$ denotes the topological closure of a subset $M$ of $X(k_{\Omega})$.

Pursuing the line of thought explored in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020], the goal of the present article is to prove an analogue of Theorem 1.3 in the case where the torus $T$ is replaced with a *supersolvable finite group*. We shall adapt the notion of a type to the nonabelian setting as follows: for a smooth and geometrically irreducible variety $X$, we define a finite descent type on $X$ to be a variety $\overline{Y}$ over $\overline{k}$ equipped with a finite étale map $\overline{Y} \to X_{\overline{k}}$ such that the composed map $\overline{Y} \to X_{\overline{k}} \to X$ is Galois, in the sense that the function field extension $\overline{k}(\overline{Y})/k(X)$ is Galois; and we define a torsor of type $\overline{Y}$ to be an étale map $Y \to X$ such that the $X_{\overline{k}}$-schemes $Y_{\overline{k}}$ and $\overline{Y}$ are isomorphic. A torsor of type $\overline{Y}$ is then naturally a torsor under a finite group scheme over $k$ whose group of $\overline{k}$-points is the finite group $\text{Aut}(\overline{Y}/X_{\overline{k}})$ canonically associated with the type $\overline{Y}$ (although the group scheme itself is not canonically associated with $\overline{Y}$). Any finite descent type determines not only a finite group $\overline{G} = \text{Aut}(\overline{Y}/X_{\overline{k}})$, but also an outer Galois action $\text{Gal}(\overline{k}/k) \to \text{Out}(\overline{G})$ on $\overline{G}$. We say that a finite descent type $\overline{Y}$ is supersolvable if $\overline{G}$ admits a filtration

$$\{1\} = \overline{G}_0 \subseteq \overline{G}_1 \subseteq \dots \subseteq \overline{G}_n = \overline{G}$$

such that each $\overline{G}_i$ is a normal subgroup of $\overline{G}$ stable under the outer Galois action, and each successive quotient $\overline{G}_{i+1}/\overline{G}_i$ is cyclic. We say that it is rationally connected if $\overline{Y}$, as a variety over $\overline{k}$, is rationally connected (in the sense made explicit just before Conjecture 1.1).

Our main result in this article is the following:

**Theorem 1.4** (supersolvable descent, see Theorem 3.1). Let $X$ be a smooth and geometrically irreducible variety over a number field $k$. Let $\overline{Y}$ be a rationally connected supersolvable finite descent type on $X$. Then

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} = \overline{\bigcup_{f:Y \to X} f(Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)}),} \qquad (1-5)$$

where $f:Y \to X$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y \to X$ of type $\overline{Y}$. In particular, Conjecture 1.1 holds for $X$ if it holds for $Y$ for every torsor $Y \to X$ of type $\overline{Y}$.

It is now crucial that $X$ is not assumed proper in the statement of Theorem 1.4: indeed, the hypothesis that $\overline{Y}$ is rationally connected implies that $X_{\overline{k}}$ is rationally connected, and proper smooth rationally connected varieties are simply connected and hence do not possess nontrivial finite descent types.

**Theorem 1.4** can be used to prove Conjecture 1.1 for quotient varieties $Y/G$, where $G$ is a finite supersolvable group acting freely on a quasiprojective rationally connected variety $Y$, when Conjecture 1.1 is already known for $Y$ and for all of its twists. In particular, the following case of Conjecture 1.1 can be proved via supersolvable descent (see Example 3.4):
**Corollary 1.5.** Let $Y$ be a homogeneous space of a connected linear algebraic group $L$ with connected geometric stabilisers. Suppose that a finite supersolvable group $G$ acts on $L$ (as an algebraic group) and on $Y$ (as a homogeneous space of $L$, compatibly with its action on $L$), and that the action on $Y$ is free. Then **Conjecture 1.1** holds for the variety $X = Y/G$.

As an application, we prove the following generalisation of a theorem of Frei, Loughran and Newton [2022]:

**Corollary 1.6.** Let $k$ be a number field and $A \subset k^*$ be a finitely generated subgroup. Let $G$ be a supersolvable finite group. Then there exists a Galois extension $K/k$ with Galois group isomorphic to $G$ such that every element of $A$ is a norm from $K$. Moreover, given a finite set of places $S$ of $k$, we can require that the places of $S$ split in $K$.

More applications are described in Section 4.

**1A. Notation and terminology.** We fix once and for all a field $k$ of characteristic 0 and an algebraic closure $\bar{k}$ of $k$. A variety is a separated scheme of finite type over a field. Somewhat unconventionally, we shall say that a variety $X$ over $k$ is rationally connected if the smooth proper varieties over $\bar{k}$ that are birationally equivalent to $X_{\bar{k}}$ are rationally connected in the sense of Campana, Kollár, Miyaoka and Mori; see [Kollár 1996, Chapter IV]. If $X$ is a smooth irreducible variety over $k$, we denote by $\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X) \subseteq \text{Br}(X)$ the unramified Brauer group of $k(X)/k$; see [Colliot-Thélène and Skorobogatov 2021, §6.2].

The words “torsor”, “action” and “homogeneous space” will refer to left torsors, left actions and left homogeneous spaces, unless indicated otherwise. An *outer action* of a profinite group $\Gamma$ on a discrete group $H$ is a continuous group homomorphism $\Gamma \to \text{Out}(H)$, where we endow the group $\text{Out}(H)$ of outer automorphisms of $H$ with the topology induced by the compact-open topology on $\text{Aut}(H)$.

When $G$ is an algebraic group over $k$, we denote by $H^1(k, G)$ the first nonabelian Galois cohomology pointed set; see [Serre 1994]. When we write $[\sigma]$ for an element of this set, we mean that $\sigma$ is a cocycle representing the cohomology class $[\sigma]$.

When $k$ is a number field, we denote by $\Omega$ the set of places of $k$ and by $k_v$ the completion of $k$ at $v \in \Omega$. For any variety $X$ over $k$, we let $X(k_\Omega) = \prod_{v \in \Omega} X(k_v)$, endow this set with the product of the $v$-adic topologies, and when $X$ is smooth and irreducible, we denote by $X(k_\Omega)^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} \subseteq X(k_\Omega)$ the Brauer–Manin set; see [Skorobogatov 2001, §5.2].

**2. Finite descent types**

We recall that $k$ denotes a field of characteristic 0. We fix, until the end of Section 2, a smooth and geometrically irreducible variety $X$ over $k$.

**2A. Finite descent types and torsors.** If $G$ is a finite étale group scheme over $k$ and $Y \to X$ is a torsor under $G$ such that $Y$ is geometrically irreducible over $k$, the function field extension $\bar{k}(Y)/k(X)$ is Galois (with Galois group $G(\bar{k}) \times \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$). This remark motivates the following definition:

**Definition 2.1.** A *finite descent type on $X$* is an irreducible finite étale $X_{\bar{k}}$-scheme $\bar{Y}$ that is Galois over $X$ (i.e., such that the function field extension $\bar{k}(\bar{Y})/k(X)$ is Galois).
Equivalently, a finite descent type on $X$ is an irreducible finite étale Galois $X_{\bar{k}}$-scheme $\bar{Y}$ such that the
natural morphism $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) \to \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ is surjective.

**Definition 2.2.** Given a finite descent type $\bar{Y}$ on $X$, a *torsor of type* $\bar{Y}$ is an $X$-scheme $Y$ such that the $X_{\bar{k}}$-schemes $Y_{\bar{k}}$ and $\bar{Y}$ are isomorphic.

Although **Definition 2.2** does not make reference to a group scheme, the name “torsor” is justified by the remark that any *torsor* $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$ in the above sense is canonically a *torsor* under the finite étale group scheme $G$ over $k$ defined by $G(\bar{k}) = \mathrm{Aut}(Y_{\bar{k}}/X_{\bar{k}})$. We warn the reader, though, that two torsors of type $\bar{Y}$ are not, in general, torsors under isomorphic group schemes: the underlying finite group is always isomorphic to $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$, but the action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$ depends, in general, on the choice of $Y \to X$. As we shall see in **Proposition 2.4** (ii), it is nevertheless true that two torsors of type $\bar{Y}$ are torsors under group schemes that are inner forms of each other.

Let $\bar{Y}$ be a finite descent type on $X$. The short exact sequence of profinite groups

$$1 \to \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}}) \to \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) \to \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to 1 \quad (2-1)$$

induces a continuous outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the finite group $\bar{G} = \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$. This outer action, together with the natural action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the scheme $X_{\bar{k}}$, induces, in turn, a continuous action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the pointed set $H_{\mathrm{et}}^{1}(X_{\bar{k}}, \bar{G})$ of isomorphism classes of torsors under $\bar{G}$ over $X_{\bar{k}}$ (notation justified by [Milne 1980, Chapter III, Corollary 4.7]). With respect to this action, the class of the $\bar{G}$-torsor $\bar{Y} \to X_{\bar{k}}$ is invariant.

The next two propositions provide a group-theoretic point of view on **Definition 2.2** in terms of the short exact sequence (2-1). When we speak of a *splitting* of (2-1), we shall always mean a continuous homomorphism $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X)$ which is a section of the projection $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) \to \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$.

**Proposition 2.3.** Let $\bar{Y}$ be a finite descent type on $X$.

(i) *Splittings of (2-1) are in one-to-one correspondence with isomorphism classes of torsors* $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$ *endowed with an $X_{\bar{k}}$-isomorphism* $\iota: Y_{\bar{k}} \xrightarrow{\sim} \bar{Y}$.

(ii) *Splittings of (2-1) up to conjugation by Aut($\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}}$) are in one-to-one correspondence with isomorphism classes of torsors* $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$.

(iii) *Splittings of (2-1) exist if $X(k) \neq \emptyset$.*

*Proof.* Assertion (i) results from the fact that such pairs $(Y, \iota)$ correspond to subextensions $k(X) \subset L \subset \bar{k}(\bar{Y})$ such that $L \cap \bar{k} = k$ and $\bar{k}(\bar{Y}) = L\bar{k}$, and from Galois theory. Assertion (ii) follows from (i). For (iii), see [Wittenberg 2018, Proposition 2.5]. □

**Proposition 2.4.** Let $\bar{Y}$ be a finite descent type on $X$, and set $\bar{G} = \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$.

(i) Let us fix a pair $(Y, \iota)$ as in **Proposition 2.3** (i) corresponding to a splitting $s$ of (2-1). Let $G$ be the finite étale group scheme over $k$ defined by $G(\bar{k}) = \bar{G}$, with the continuous action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G}$ by conjugation through $s$. Then the natural action of $\bar{G}$ on $\bar{Y}$ descends to an action of $G$ on the $X$-scheme $Y$, making it a *torsor* under $G$.
(ii) Let us fix another pair $(Y', \iota')$, corresponding to another splitting $s'$ of (2-1). Let $G'$ denote the corresponding group scheme, as in (i). Let $\sigma$ be the cocycle

$$s's^{-1} : \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to G(\bar{k}).$$

There are compatible canonical isomorphisms of k-group schemes $G' \simeq G^\sigma$ and of X-schemes $Y' \simeq Y^\sigma$, where $G^\sigma$ denotes the inner twist of the group scheme G by $\sigma$ and $Y^\sigma$ denotes the twist of the torsor Y by $\sigma$; see [Skorobogatov 2001, Lemma 2.2.3].

*Proof.* Both assertions follow from unwinding the correspondence of Proposition 2.3 (i) and noting that the natural action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the scheme $Y_{\bar{k}}$ coincides with the action obtained by transport of structure, via $\iota$, from the action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{Y}$ given by $s$. $\square$

**Remark 2.5.** Let us assume that $\bar{G}$ is abelian. In this case, the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G}$ induced by (2-1) is an actual action, thanks to which $\bar{G}$ canonically descends to a finite étale group scheme G over $k$. In addition, any torsor $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$ is canonically a torsor under G since any two $X_{\bar{k}}$-isomorphisms $Y_{\bar{k}} \to \bar{Y}$ give rise to the same isomorphism $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}}) \simeq \mathrm{Aut}(Y_{\bar{k}}/X_{\bar{k}})$. Thus, the abelian situation is summarised by the natural map

$$H_{\mathrm{ét}}^{1}(X, G) \to H^{0}(k, H_{\mathrm{ét}}^{1}(X_{\bar{k}}, \bar{G})), \qquad (2-2)$$

which appears in the Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence and which sends the isomorphism class of a G-torsor over X to (the isomorphism class of) its type. We see, in particular, that the terminology of Definition 2.2 is consistent with the one introduced by Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc [1987, §2] in the theory of descent under groups of multiplicative type, as well as with the notion of extended type of Harari and Skorobogatov [2013] in the finite case.

**2B. Supersolvability.** The notion of supersolvability for finite groups endowed with an outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, first introduced in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Définition 6.4], plays a central rôle in the present article. We recall it below.

**Definition 2.6.** A finite group $\bar{G}$ endowed with an outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ is said to be *supersolvable* if there exist an integer $n$ and a sequence

$$\{1\} = \bar{G}_0 \subseteq \bar{G}_1 \subseteq \dots \subseteq \bar{G}_n = \bar{G}$$

of normal subgroups of $\bar{G}$ such that for all $i \in \{1, \dots, n\}$, the quotient $\bar{G}_i/\bar{G}_{i-1}$ is cyclic and the subgroup $\bar{G}_i$ is stable under the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. (A normal subgroup is said to be stable under an outer automorphism if it is stable under any automorphism that lifts the given outer automorphism. This is independent of the choice of the lift.)

A finite descent type $\bar{Y}$ on X is said to be *supersolvable* if the finite group $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$, endowed with the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ induced by (2-1), is supersolvable in this sense.

When the integer $n$ is fixed, we say that $\bar{G}$, or $\bar{Y}$, is *supersolvable of class n*.
### 3. Supersolvable descent

We are now in a position to state and prove our main theorem. We say that a finite descent type $\bar{Y}$ on $X$ is rationally connected if $\bar{Y}$ is a rationally connected variety over $\bar{k}$ in the sense of Section 1A.

**Theorem 3.1.** Let $X$ be a smooth and geometrically irreducible variety over a number field $k$. Let $\bar{Y}$ be a rationally connected supersolvable finite descent type on $X$. Then

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X)} = \overline{\bigcup_{f:Y \to X} f(Y(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y)}),} \quad (3-1)$$

where $f:Y \to X$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$ and $\bar{M}$ denotes the topological closure of a subset $M$ of $X(k_{\Omega})$.

**Remarks 3.2.** (i) The existence of a rationally connected finite descent type on $X$, assumed in Theorem 3.1, implies that $X$ itself is rationally connected.

(ii) When $X$ is rationally connected, the statement of Theorem 3.1 can be expected to hold for an arbitrary finite descent type $\bar{Y}$ on $X$. Indeed, the equality (3-1) would result from Conjecture 1.1; see [Wittenberg 2018, Proposition 2.5].

(iii) By Proposition 2.3 (ii) and Proposition 2.4, equation (3-1) can be reformulated as the following two-part statement:

* if $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X)} \neq \emptyset$, then the natural outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G} = \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$ can be lifted to an actual continuous action, in such a way that if $G$ denotes the resulting finite étale group scheme over $k$, the $\bar{G}$-torsor $\bar{Y} \to X_{\bar{k}}$ descends to a $G$-torsor $f:Y \to X$;

* fixing such $G$ and $Y$ and denoting by $f^{\sigma}:Y^{\sigma} \to X$ the twist of the torsor $f:Y \to X$ by a cocycle $\sigma$, we have an equality

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X)} = \overline{\bigcup_{[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)} f^{\sigma}(Y^{\sigma}(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y^{\sigma})})}.$$

The proof of Theorem 3.1 will be given in Sections 3B–3C, first in the case where $G$ is cyclic in Section 3B and then in the general case in Section 3C. Before going into the proof, let us illustrate Theorem 3.1 with the following special case. We say that a finite étale group scheme $G$ over $k$ is supersolvable if $G(\bar{k})$ is supersolvable in the sense of Definition 2.6 with respect to the natural outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ (which happens in this case to be an actual action).

**Corollary 3.3.** Let $Y$ be a smooth, quasiprojective rationally connected variety over a number field $k$. Let $G$ be a supersolvable finite étale group scheme over $k$, acting freely on $Y$. Let $X = Y/G$ denote the quotient. If Conjecture 1.1 holds for $Y^{\sigma}$ for all $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$, then it holds for $X$.

*Proof.* The projection $Y \to X$ is a $G$-torsor, hence $Y_{\bar{k}}$ is a supersolvable finite descent type on $X$, as remarked at the beginning of Section 2A. The conclusion now follows from Theorem 3.1, in view of Remark 3.2 (iii). □
**Example 3.4.** Suppose that $Y$ is a homogeneous space of a connected linear algebraic group $L$ with connected geometric stabilisers, and that the finite supersolvable group $G$ acts compatibly on $L$ as an algebraic group and on $Y$ as a homogeneous space of $L$, with the action on $Y$ being free. For each $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$, the twisted variety $Y^\sigma$ is then a homogeneous space of the twisted algebraic group $G^\sigma$, with connected geometric stabilisers. As such, the variety $Y^\sigma$ satisfies Conjecture 1.1, according to Borovoi [1996]. It now follows from Corollary 3.3 that Conjecture 1.1 holds for the quotient variety $X = Y/G$. It should be noted that $X$ is not itself, in general, a homogeneous space of a linear group. This example will play a rôle in Section 4B below.

**3A. Fibrations over tori.** The proof of Theorem 3.1 rests on the fibration method via the following theorem, which is a slightly more precise version of [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.2 (ii)]. We recall that a variety is split if it possesses an irreducible component of multiplicity 1 that is geometrically irreducible.

**Theorem 3.5** (see [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.2 (ii)]). Let $Q$ be a quasit trivial torus over a number field $k$. Let $Z$ be a smooth irreducible variety over $k$. Let $\pi : Z \to Q$ be a dominant morphism satisfying the following assumptions:

(1) the geometric generic fibre of $\pi$ is rationally connected;

(2) the fibres of $\pi$ above the codimension 1 points of $Q$ are split;

(3) the morphism $\pi_{\bar{k}} : Z_{\bar{k}} \to Q_{\bar{k}}$ admits a rational section.

For any dense open subset $U$ of $Q$ such that $\pi$ is smooth over $U$, and for any Hilbert subset $H$ of $U$, we have the equality

$$Z(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z)} = \overline{\bigcup_{q \in U(k) \cap H} Z_q(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)}} \quad (3-2)$$

of subsets of $Z(k_{\Omega})$, where $Z_q = \pi^{-1}(q)$.

Hypothesis (3) of Theorem 3.5 is stronger than the hypothesis that appears in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.2 (ii)]. The proof, however, only depends on the hypothesis formulated in loc. cit.; we have opted for stating the theorem in this way for the sake of simplicity. With this minor difference put aside, Theorem 3.5 implies and refines [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.2 (ii)].

The exact argument used in loc. cit. to deduce [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.2 (ii)] from [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème 4.1 (ii)] also reduces Theorem 3.5 to the following theorem:

**Theorem 3.6.** Let $Z$ be a smooth irreducible variety over a number field $k$, endowed with a dominant morphism $\pi : Z \to A_k^n$, for some $n \ge 1$, such that

(1) the geometric generic fibre of $\pi$ is rationally connected;

(2) the fibres of $\pi$ above the codimension 1 points of $A_k^n$ are split.
For any dense open subset $U$ of $A_k^n$ such that $\pi$ is smooth over $U$, and for any Hilbert subset $H$ of $U$, we
have the equality

$$
Z(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z)} = \overline{\bigcup_{q \in U(k) \cap H} Z_q(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)}} \quad (3-3)
$$

of subsets of $Z(k_{\Omega})$, where $Z_q = \pi^{-1}(q)$.

In turn, Theorem 3.6 is essentially contained in the work of Harari [1994; 1997], though its statement
appears not to have been written down. We provide a short proof based on the available literature. We shall
use Theorem 3.6 only when $H = U$. Assuming that $H = U$, however, would not lead to any significant
simplification in the proof.

*Proof of Theorem 3.6.* Assume, first, that $n=1$. By the theorems of Nagata and Hironaka, the morphism $\pi$ extends to a proper morphism $\pi' : Z' \to P_k^1$ for some smooth variety $Z'$ that contains $Z$ as a dense open subset. Applying [Harpaz et al. 2022, Corollary 4.7, Remarks 4.8 (i)–(ii) and Corollary 6.2 (i)] to $\pi'$ now yields (3-3). For $n \ge 2$, we argue by induction. Fix $U$ and $H$ as in the statement of the theorem, fix a collection of local points $z_\Omega \in Z(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z)}$ and fix a neighbourhood $\mathcal{U}$ of $z_\Omega$ in $Z(k_\Omega)$. We need to show the existence of $q \in U(k) \cap H$ such that $\mathcal{U} \cap Z_q(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)} \ne \emptyset$.

Let $p : A_k^n \to A_k^1$ be the first projection. For $h \in A_k^1$, set $Z_h = (p \circ \pi)^{-1}(h)$ and let $\pi_h : Z_h \to p^{-1}(h)$ denote the restriction of $\pi$. Let $U_0 \subset A_k^1$ be a dense open subset over which $p \circ \pi$ is smooth, small enough that for any $h \in U_0$, the generic fibre of $\pi_h$ is rationally connected; see [Kollár 1996, Chapter IV, Theorem 3.5.3]. By assumption, there exists a closed subset of codimension $\ge 2$ in $A_k^n$ outside of which the fibres of $\pi$ are split. After shrinking $U_0$, we may assume that the images, by $p$, of the irreducible components of this closed subset are either dense in $A_k^1$ or disjoint from $U_0$. For $h \in U_0$, the fibres of $\pi_h$ above the codimension 1 points of $p^{-1}(h)$ are then split. After further shrinking $U_0$, we may also assume that $p^{-1}(h) \cap U \ne \emptyset$ for every $h \in U_0$.

By [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2016, Lemma 8.12], there exists a Hilbert subset $H_0 \subset A_k^1$ such that for
every $h \in U_0(k) \cap H_0$, the set $H \cap p^{-1}(h)$ contains a Hilbert subset, say $H_h$, of $p^{-1}(h) = A_k^{n-1}$. Let $\eta$
denote the generic point of $A_k^1$. The generic fibre of $p \circ \pi$ is endowed with a map to $A^{n-1}$ with rationally
connected generic fibre, hence it is itself rationally connected; see [Graber et al. 2003, Corollary 1.3]. The
closed fibres of $p \circ \pi$ are each endowed with a map to $A^{n-1}$ whose generic fibre is, by assumption, split;
hence they are themselves split. By the case $n=1$ of Theorem 3.6 applied to $p \circ \pi$, we deduce the existence
of $h \in U_0(k) \cap H_0$ such that $\mathcal{U} \cap Z_h(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_h)} \ne \emptyset$. By the induction hypothesis, we can then apply
Theorem 3.6 to $\pi_h$ and finally deduce the existence of $q \in U(k) \cap H_h$ such that $\mathcal{U} \cap Z_q(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)} \ne \emptyset$.
As $H_h \subset H$, this completes the proof. $\square$

**3B. Cyclic descent.** We now establish Theorem 3.1 in the case where $\bar{G} = \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$ is a cyclic group. Since most of the proof works in a slightly greater generality, we only assume, for now, that $\bar{G}$ is an abelian group (and drop the supersolvability assumption on $\bar{Y}$). We shall restrict to the cyclic case only at the end of Section 3B.
As $\bar{G}$ is abelian, the exact sequence (2-1) induces a continuous action of Gal($\bar{k}/k$) on $\bar{G}$. Let $G$ be the finite étale group scheme over $k$ defined by $G(\bar{k}) = \bar{G}$. In the next lemma, the symbol $\mathbb{E}(X)$ denotes the subgroup of $\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)$ consisting of the locally constant classes (i.e., the classes whose image in $\text{Br}(X_{k_v})$ comes from $\text{Br}(k_v)$ for all $v \in \Omega$).

**Lemma 3.7.** If $X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathbb{E}(X)} \neq \emptyset$, then $\bar{Y} \to X_{\bar{k}}$ descends to a torsor $f : Y \to X$ under $G$.

*Proof.* Under the given assumption, Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc have shown that the natural map $H^2(k, G) \to H_{\bar{\epsilon}_t}^2(X, G)$ is injective (combine [Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc 1987, Proposition 2.2.5] for $X$ with [Wittenberg 2008, Theorem 3.3.1] for a smooth compactification of $X$; we note that in the case of a smooth, proper, rationally connected variety, the quoted theorem from [Wittenberg 2008] goes back to [Colliot-Thélène and Sansuc 1987], see [Borovoi et al. 2008, §2.3, Remark]). By the Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence, it follows that the natural map $H_{\bar{\epsilon}_t}^1(X, G) \to H^0(k, H_{\bar{\epsilon}_t}^1(X_{\bar{k}}, G_{\bar{k}}))$ is surjective. $\square$

**Lemma 3.8.** Over any field, any algebraic group of multiplicative type $R$ fits into a short exact sequence $1 \to R \to T \to Q \to 1$, where $T$ is a torus and $Q$ is a quasit trivial torus.

*Proof.* The character group $M$ of $R$ fits into a short exact sequence of Galois modules $0 \to K \to L \to M \to 0$, with $K$ and $L$ torsion-free and finitely generated as abelian groups; we can even choose $L$ to be a permutation Galois module. Doing the same with $\text{Hom}(K, Z)$ and then dualising, we find that $K$ also fits into an exact sequence of Galois modules $0 \to K \to P \to C \to 0$, with $C$ torsion-free and $P$ permutation. Let $S = L \oplus_K P$ be the amalgamated sum relative to $K$. The exact sequence $0 \to L \to S \to C \to 0$ shows that $S$ is torsion-free. Dualising the short exact sequence $0 \to P \to S \to M \to 0$, therefore, provides the desired resolution. $\square$

Let us fix a torsor $f : Y \to X$ as in Lemma 3.7 and a resolution

$$1 \to G \to T \to Q \to 1 \qquad (3-4)$$

given by Lemma 3.8 applied to $R = G$. Let $Z = Y \times_k^G T$ be the contracted product of $Y$ and $T$ under $G$ (i.e., the quotient of $Y \times_k T$ by the action of $G$ given by $g \cdot (y, t) = (gy, g^{-1}t)$). Let $g : Z \to X$ and $\pi : Z \to Q$ be the morphisms induced by the two projections.

Let us also fix a collection of local points $x_{\Omega} \in X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$ and a neighbourhood $\mathcal{U}$ of $x_{\Omega}$ in $X(k_{\Omega})$. We shall show that

$$\mathcal{U} \cap f^{\sigma}(Y^{\sigma}(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y^{\sigma})}) \neq \emptyset \qquad (3-5)$$

for some $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$. By Remark 3.2 (iii), this will prove the desired equality (3-1).

To this end, we apply [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Corollaire 2.2] to $g$. This yields a $[\tau] \in H^1(k, T)$ such that $\mathcal{U} \cap g^{\tau}(Z^{\tau}(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Z^{\tau})}) \neq \emptyset$. As the torus $Q$ is quasit trivial, Hilbert’s theorem 90 implies that $H^1(k, Q) = 0$; the cohomology class $[\tau]$ can therefore be lifted to some $[\sigma_0] \in H^1(k, G)$, and we may assume that the cocycle $\sigma_0$ lifts $\tau$. After replacing $Y$ with $Y^{\sigma_0}$, which has the effect of replacing $Z$ with $Z^{\tau}$, we may then assume that $[\tau]$ is the trivial class, i.e., that $\mathcal{U} \cap g(Z(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Z)}) \neq \emptyset$.
To conclude the proof that (3-5) holds for some $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$, we shall now exploit the structure of a fibration over a quasitrivial torus given by the morphism $\pi : Z \to Q$. For any field extension $k'/k$ and any $q \in Q(k')$, we let $Z_q = \pi^{-1}(q)$, which we view as a torsor under $G$, over $X_{k'}$, via $g$. The inverse image $T_q$ of $q$ by the projection $T \to Q$ is a torsor under $G$, over $k'$, whose cohomology class $[\sigma]$ in $H^1(k', G)$ is the image of $q$ by the boundary map of the exact sequence (3-4). As $Z = Y \times_G^G T$, we have $Z_q = Y \times_G^G T_q$, and hence $Z_q$ and $Y^\sigma$ are isomorphic as torsors under $G$, over $X_{k'}$. Taking for $k'$ an algebraically closed field extension of $k(Q)$ and for $q$ a geometric generic point of $Q$, it follows, first, that the geometric generic fibre of $\pi$ is isomorphic to a variety obtained from $\bar{Y}$ by an extension of scalars. By our assumption on $\bar{Y}$, we deduce that the generic fibre of $\pi$ is rationally connected. Taking $k' = k$, it also follows that

$$g(Z_q(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)}) = f^\sigma(Y^\sigma(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y^\sigma)}) \quad (3-6)$$

for every $q \in Q(k)$, where $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$ is the image of $q$ by the boundary map of (3-4). In view of (3-6), we will be done if we show the equality

$$Z(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z)} = \overline{\bigcup_{q \in Q(k)} Z_q(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Z_q)}} \quad (3-7)$$

of subsets of $Z(k_\Omega)$. Thus, the problem that we need to solve has been reduced to the question of making the fibration method work for $\pi : Z \to Q$, a fibration over a quasitrivial torus whose generic fibre is rationally connected and all of whose fibres are split (even geometrically integral). When $\bar{G}$ is cyclic, a positive answer is given by Theorem 3.5, thanks to the next lemma.

**Lemma 3.9.** If $\bar{G}$ is a cyclic group, the morphism $\pi_{\bar{k}} : Z_{\bar{k}} \to Q_{\bar{k}}$ admits a rational section.

*Proof.* If $\bar{G}$ is cyclic, we can fit the exact sequence (3-4) over $\bar{k}$ and the Kummer exact sequence into a commutative diagram as pictured below:

$$\begin{tikzcd}
1 \arrow[r] & G_{\bar{k}} \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\sim"] & T_{\bar{k}} \arrow[r] \arrow[d] & Q_{\bar{k}} \arrow[r] \arrow[d] & 1 \\
1 \arrow[r] & \mu_{n, \bar{k}} \arrow[r] & G_{m, \bar{k}} \arrow[r, "\times n"] & G_{m, \bar{k}} \arrow[r] & 1
\end{tikzcd} \quad (3-8)$$

As the right-hand side square of (3-8) is cartesian, so is the square obtained by applying the functor $Y \times_G^G -$ to it. Hence $\pi_{\bar{k}} : Z_{\bar{k}} \to Q_{\bar{k}}$ comes, by a dominant base change, from the morphism $\pi_0 : Y \times_G^G G_{m,\bar{k}} \to G_{m,\bar{k}}$ induced by the multiplication by $n$ map $G_{m,\bar{k}} \to G_{m,\bar{k}}$. In particular, it suffices to check that $\pi_0$ admits a rational section. Now, the proper models of the geometric generic fibre of $\pi_0$ are rationally connected, since $\pi_{\bar{k}}$ and $\pi_0$ have the same geometric generic fibre. As the target of $\pi_0$ is a curve over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, the Graber-Harris-Starr theorem [Graber et al. 2003, Theorem 1.1], combined with [Kollár 1996, Chapter IV, Theorem 6.10], does imply the existence of a rational section of $\pi_0$. $\square$
**3C.** *Proof of Theorem 3.1 in the general case.* We assume that $\bar{Y}$ is a supersolvable finite descent type on $X$ of class $n$ and argue by induction on $n$. If $n=0$, there is nothing to prove. Assume that $n > 0$ and that the statement of Theorem 3.1 holds for supersolvable finite descent types of class $n-1$.

Let $\bar{G} = \mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}})$, and let $\{1\} = \bar{G}_0 \subseteq \bar{G}_1 \subseteq \dots \subseteq \bar{G}_n = \bar{G}$ be a filtration satisfying the requirements of Definition 2.6. The subgroup $\bar{G}_{n-1}$ of $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X)$ is normal since it is stabilised by the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G}$ induced by (2-1). Thus $\bar{Y}' = \bar{Y}/\bar{G}_{n-1}$ is a finite descent type on $X$. As $\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}'/X_{\bar{k}}) = \bar{G}_n/\bar{G}_{n-1}$ is cyclic, we can apply the case of Theorem 3.1 already established in Section 3B, and deduce that

$$X(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X)} = \overline{\bigcup_{f':Y' \to X} f(Y'(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y')}),} \quad (3-9)$$

where $f': Y' \to X$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y' \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}'$.

**Lemma 3.10.** Let $f': Y' \to X$ be a torsor of type $\bar{Y}'$ and $\iota: Y'_k \xrightarrow{\sim} \bar{Y}'$ be an isomorphism of $X_{\bar{k}}$-schemes. Viewing the scheme $\bar{Y}$ as a $Y'_k$-scheme via $\iota$, it is a supersolvable finite descent type on $Y'$ of class $n-1$.

*Proof.* As $\bar{Y}$ is Galois over $X$, it is Galois over $Y'$. Moreover, the commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}
1 & \to & \bar{G} \\
  & \cup & \\
  &  & \parallel \\
1 & \to & \bar{G}_{n-1}
\end{array}
\quad
\begin{array}{ccc}
\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) & \to & \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \\
  & \parallel & \\
\mathrm{Aut}(\bar{Y}/Y') & \to & \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)
\end{array}
\quad
\begin{array}{c}
1 \\
\parallel \\
1
\end{array}$$

shows that the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G}_{n-1}$ coming from the bottom row stabilises the subgroups $\bar{G}_1, \dots, \bar{G}_{n-2}$ of $\bar{G}_{n-1}$, since these subgroups are stable under the outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\bar{G}$ coming from the top row. $\square$

For any torsor $f': Y' \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}'$ and for any $X_{\bar{k}}$-isomorphism $\iota: Y'_k \xrightarrow{\sim} \bar{Y}'$, Lemma 3.10 and the induction hypothesis imply the equality

$$Y'(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y')} = \overline{\bigcup_{f'':Y \to Y'} f''(Y(k_{\Omega})^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y)}),} \quad (3-10)$$

of subsets of $Y'(k_{\Omega})$, where $f'': Y \to Y'$ ranges over the isomorphism classes of torsors $Y \to Y'$ of type $\bar{Y}$ (viewing $\bar{Y}$ as a $Y'_k$-scheme via $\iota$). Now for any such $f'$, $\iota$ and $f''$, the composition $f' \circ f'': Y \to X$ is a torsor of type $\bar{Y}$. Hence combining (3-9) with (3-10) yields (3-1). This completes the proof of Theorem 3.1.

# 4. Applications

We now discuss applications of supersolvable descent to rational points on homogeneous spaces and to Galois theory, pursuing and expanding the investigations in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020]. Unless otherwise noted, the field $k$ will be assumed in Section 4 to be a number field.
**4A. Homogeneous spaces of linear algebraic groups.** In Theorem 4.5 below, we apply supersolvable descent to the validity of Conjecture 1.1 for homogeneous spaces of linear algebraic groups. Additional notation and terminology that is useful for dealing with stabilisers of geometric points on such homogeneous spaces will first be introduced in Section 4A1. Theorem 4.5 is stated in Section 4A2 and proved in Section 4A3.

**4A1. Outer Galois actions and $\sigma$-algebraic maps.** We first introduce $\sigma$-algebraic maps, following Borovoi [1993, §1.1].

**Definition 4.1.** Given a field automorphism $\sigma$ of $\bar{k}$, a $\sigma$-algebraic map between two varieties $V, W$ over $\bar{k}$ is a morphism of schemes $f: V \to W$ that makes the square

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

commute, where $\varepsilon_V$ and $\varepsilon_W$ are the structure morphisms of $V$ and $W$. Equivalently, if $\sigma^*W$ denotes the variety over $\bar{k}$ with underlying scheme $W$ and structure morphism $\text{Spec}(\sigma) \circ \varepsilon_W$, a $\sigma$-algebraic map $f: V \to W$ is a morphism of varieties $V \to \sigma^*W$.

A $\sigma$-algebraic map is generally not a morphism of varieties. Nonetheless, any $\sigma$-algebraic map $f: V \to W$ induces a map $f_*: V(\bar{k}) \to W(\bar{k})$, since the sets $V(\bar{k})$ and $W(\bar{k})$ can be identified with the sets of closed points of the schemes $V$ and $W$. We shall say that a map $V(\bar{k}) \to W(\bar{k})$ is $\sigma$-algebraic if it coincides with $f_*$ for a $\sigma$-algebraic map $f: V \to W$, and that it is algebraic if it is $\sigma$-algebraic with $\sigma = \text{Id}_{\bar{k}}$.

**Remarks 4.2.** (i) If $V$ and $W$ are nonempty varieties over $\bar{k}$, a morphism of schemes $f: V \to W$ can be a $\sigma$-algebraic map for at most one automorphism $\sigma$ of $\bar{k}$.

(ii) As $\text{Spec}(\tau^{-1}) \circ \text{Spec}(\sigma^{-1}) = \text{Spec}(\sigma^{-1}\tau^{-1}) = \text{Spec}((\tau\sigma)^{-1})$, precomposing a $\tau$-algebraic map with a $\sigma$-algebraic map yields a $\tau\sigma$-algebraic map. In particular, the class of $\sigma$-algebraic maps is closed under composition with algebraic maps.

(iii) If $V = V_0 \times_k \text{Spec}(\bar{k})$ for a variety $V_0$ over $k$, then for any $\sigma \in \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, the morphism of schemes $f: V \to V$ given by $\text{Id}_{V_0} \times_k \text{Spec}(\sigma^{-1})$ is a $\sigma$-algebraic map. The map $f_*: V(\bar{k}) \to V(\bar{k})$ that it induces is $v \mapsto \sigma(v)$.

(iv) Let $V = V_0 \times_k \text{Spec}(\bar{k})$ for a variety $V_0$ over $k$ and $U$ be an irreducible finite étale $V$-scheme. Let $\rho: \text{Aut}(U/V_0) \to \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ denote the natural map, which factors through $\text{Aut}(V/V_0) = \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Then $a: U \to U$ is a $\rho(a)$-algebraic map for any $a \in \text{Aut}(U/V_0)$.

We recall that if $X$ is a (left) homogeneous space of a connected linear algebraic group $L$ over $k$ and if $H_{\bar{x}} \subset L_{\bar{k}}$ denotes the stabiliser of a point $\bar{x} \in X(\bar{k})$, viewed as an algebraic group over $\bar{k}$, the exact sequence

$$1 \to H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k}) \to G_{\bar{x}} \to \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to 1, \quad (4-1)$$
where $G_{\bar{x}} = \{(\ell, \sigma) \in L(\bar{k}) \rtimes \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k); \ell \sigma(\bar{x}) = \bar{x}\}$, induces a continuous outer action of the profinite group $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the discrete group $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$; see [Demarche and Lucchini Arteche 2019, §2.3]. Thus, the discrete group $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ receives a continuous outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ while the algebraic group $H_{\bar{x}}$ is only defined over $\bar{k}$. The notion of $\sigma$-algebraic map allows us to reconcile this outer action with the algebraic structure of $H_{\bar{x}}$, as shown by the following proposition:

**Proposition 4.3.** Let $\sigma \in \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Any group automorphism of $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ that represents the outer action of $\sigma$ is induced by a $\sigma$-algebraic map $H_{\bar{x}} \to H_{\bar{x}}$.

*Proof.* Let $(\ell, \sigma) \in G_{\bar{x}}$. The automorphism $m \mapsto \ell\sigma(m)\ell^{-1}$ of $L(\bar{k})$, being the composition of the $\sigma$-algebraic map $m \mapsto \sigma(m)$ with the algebraic map $m \mapsto \ell m \ell^{-1}$, is itself $\sigma$-algebraic (see Remarks 4.2 (ii)-(iii)), i.e., it equals $f_*$ for a $\sigma$-algebraic map $f : L_{\bar{k}} \to L_{\bar{k}}$. As $f_*$ stabilises $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ and as $H_{\bar{x}}$ is a reduced closed subscheme of $L_{\bar{k}}$, the scheme morphism $f$ stabilises $H_{\bar{x}}$. As the resulting scheme morphism $g : H_{\bar{x}} \to H_{\bar{x}}$ is a $\sigma$-algebraic map and as the automorphism $g_*$ coincides with conjugation by $(\ell, \sigma)$, the proposition is proved. $\square$

**Corollary 4.4.** Let $H_{\bar{x}}^0$ denote the connected component of the identity in $H_{\bar{x}}$. The outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ induced by (4-1) stabilises $H_{\bar{x}}^0(\bar{k})$, and hence induces an outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on the finite group $\pi_0(H_{\bar{x}})$.

*Proof.* This follows from Proposition 4.3, as any scheme morphism $H_{\bar{x}} \to H_{\bar{x}}$ that preserves the identity point must stabilise the open subscheme $H_{\bar{x}}^0$. $\square$

**4A2. Statement.** We now formulate Theorem 4.5, our main application of supersolvable descent to homogeneous spaces of linear algebraic groups, and discuss its first consequences.

**Theorem 4.5.** Let $X$ be a homogeneous space of a connected linear algebraic group $L$ over a number field $k$. Let $\bar{x} \in X(\bar{k})$. Let $H_{\bar{x}}$ denote the stabiliser of $\bar{x}$ and $N \subset H_{\bar{x}}$ be a normal algebraic subgroup of finite index satisfying the following two assumptions:

(1) the outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ induced by (4-1) stabilises $N(\bar{k})$;

(2) the quotient $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})/N(\bar{k})$ is supersolvable in the sense of Definition 2.6, with respect to the outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})/N(\bar{k})$ induced by (4-1).

Let $Y$ range over the homogeneous spaces of $L$ over $k$ that satisfy the following condition:

(★) there exist an $L$-equivariant map $Y \to X$ and a lifting $\bar{y} \in Y(\bar{k})$ of $\bar{x}$ whose stabiliser, as an algebraic subgroup of $L_{\bar{k}}$, is equal to $N$.

If Conjecture 1.1 (respectively, the implication $Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow Y(k) \neq \emptyset$) holds for all such $Y$, then Conjecture 1.1 holds for $X$ (respectively, then $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow X(k) \neq \emptyset$).

**Remark 4.6.** The weaker statement obtained by allowing $Y$ to range over all homogeneous spaces of $L$ over $k$ whose geometric stabilisers are isomorphic to $N$ as algebraic groups over $\bar{k}$ is sufficient for the applications of Theorem 4.5 considered in this article.
When $N = H_{\bar{x}}^0$, the first hypothesis of Theorem 4.5 is satisfied, by Corollary 4.4. On the other hand, Conjecture 1.1 holds for homogeneous spaces of $L$ with connected geometric stabilisers, by a theorem of Borovoi [1996, Corollary 2.5]. Thus, we deduce:

**Corollary 4.7.** Let $X$ be a homogeneous space of a connected linear algebraic group $L$ over a number field $k$. Let $\bar{x} \in X(\bar{k})$. Assume that the group of connected components of the stabiliser of $\bar{x}$ is supersolvable in the sense of Definition 2.6, with respect to the outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ given by Corollary 4.4. Then Conjecture 1.1 holds for $X$.

Corollary 4.7 simultaneously generalises Borovoi's theorem mentioned above (where the geometric stabilisers are connected) and [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème B] (where the geometric stabilisers are finite and supersolvable). In fact, even in the particular case of finite and supersolvable geometric stabilisers, Corollary 4.7 strictly generalises [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Théorème B], as it relaxes all hypotheses on the ambient linear group $L$, assumed in *loc. cit.* to be semisimple and simply connected. What is more, when $L$ is semisimple and simply connected, Corollary 4.7 can be used to ensure the validity of Conjecture 1.1 even in cases where the geometric stabilisers are not supersolvable, as the following example shows:

**Example 4.8.** Assume that $L$ is semisimple and simply connected. Then, by a theorem of Borovoi [1996, Corollary 2.5], Conjecture 1.1 holds for all $Y$ as in Theorem 4.5 if $N$ is abelian. Thus, Theorem 4.5 implies the validity of Conjecture 1.1 for any homogeneous space of $L$ whose geometric stabilisers are extensions of a supersolvable finite group by an abelian algebraic subgroup (compatibly with the outer Galois action, as stated in Theorem 4.5 (1)–(2)).

Combining Theorem 4.5 with the work of Neukirch [1979] also yields Conjecture 1.1 for homogeneous spaces of $\text{SL}_n$ whose geometric stabilisers can be written, compatibly with the outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, as extensions of a supersolvable finite group by a solvable finite group whose order is coprime to the number of roots of unity in $k$.

Nonsolvable examples where Theorem 4.5 can be applied will be discussed in Section 4A4.

**4A3.** *Proof of Theorem 4.5.* Set $\bar{Y} = L_{\bar{k}}/N$. We view $\bar{Y}$ as an $X_{\bar{k}}$-scheme through the projection

$$ \bar{Y} = L_{\bar{k}}/N \to L_{\bar{k}}/H_{\bar{x}} = X_{\bar{k}}. \qquad (4-2) $$

This projection is a torsor under $H_{\bar{x}}/N$, so that there is a natural short exact sequence

$$ 1 \to N(\bar{k}) \to H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k}) \xrightarrow{\varphi} \text{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}}) \to 1. \qquad (4-3) $$

Explicitly, the map $\varphi$ sends any $\ell \in H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k})$ to the automorphism of the variety $\bar{Y}$ over $\bar{k}$ which on $\bar{k}$-points, i.e., on the quotient set $L(\bar{k})/N(\bar{k})$, is given by $mN(\bar{k}) \mapsto m\ell^{-1}N(\bar{k})$.

For the statement of the next lemma, we recall that $N(\bar{k})$ is a normal subgroup of the middle term $G_{\bar{x}}$ of (4-1), as a consequence of assumption (1) of Theorem 4.5.
**Lemma 4.9.** The $X_{\bar{k}}$-scheme $\bar{Y}$ is a finite descent type on $X$. In addition, the short exact sequence (2-1) can be identified with the sequence obtained from (4-1) by replacing the first two terms of (4-1) with their quotients by the normal subgroup $N(\bar{k})$.

*Proof.* Let $\sigma \in \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ and $\ell \in L(\bar{k})$ be such that $\ell\sigma(\bar{x}) = \bar{x}$. By assumption (1) of Theorem 4.5, the automorphism $m \mapsto \ell\sigma(m)\ell^{-1}$ of $L(\bar{k})$ stabilises the subgroup $N(\bar{k})$. We deduce that the $\sigma$-algebraic map $L(\bar{k}) \to L(\bar{k})$, $m \mapsto \sigma(m)\ell^{-1}$ induces a $\sigma$-algebraic map $\bar{Y}(\bar{k}) \to \bar{Y}(\bar{k})$. The latter is the top horizontal arrow of a commutative square

$$ \begin{tikzcd} \bar{Y}(\bar{k}) \arrow[r] \arrow[d] & \bar{Y}(\bar{k}) \arrow[d] \\ X(\bar{k}) \arrow[r] & X(\bar{k}) \arrow[d] \arrow[u] \arrow[u] \end{tikzcd} \qquad (4-4) $$

whose lower horizontal arrow is the $\sigma$-algebraic map $m \mapsto \sigma(m)$ and whose vertical arrows are given by $m \mapsto m\bar{x}$ (i.e., are induced by (4-2)). As the horizontal arrows are $\sigma$-algebraic and the vertical ones are algebraic, the square (4-4) is induced on closed points by a commutative square of schemes

$$ \begin{tikzcd} \bar{Y} \arrow[r] \arrow[d] & \bar{Y} \arrow[d] \\ X_{\bar{k}} \arrow[r, "\text{Id}_X \times_k \text{Spec}(\sigma^{-1})"'] & X_{\bar{k}} \arrow[d] \arrow[u] \arrow[u] \end{tikzcd} \qquad (4-5) $$

whose horizontal arrows are $\sigma$-algebraic maps and both of whose vertical arrows are the projection (4-2). Hence the top horizontal arrow is an automorphism of the $X$-scheme $\bar{Y}$.

With $G_{\bar{x}}$ as in (4-1), let $\psi : G_{\bar{x}} \to \text{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X)$ denote the map that sends $(\ell, \sigma)$ to this $X$-scheme automorphism of $\bar{Y}$, and let $\rho : \text{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) \to \text{Aut}(X_{\bar{k}}/X) = \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ denote the natural morphism. One readily checks that $\psi$ is a homomorphism and that the exact sequence (4-1) fits into a commutative diagram

$$ \begin{tikzcd} 1 \arrow[r] & H_{\bar{x}}(\bar{k}) \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\psi"] & G_{\bar{x}} \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\rho"] & \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\cong"] & 1 \\ 1 \arrow[r] & \text{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X_{\bar{k}}) \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\psi"] & \text{Aut}(\bar{Y}/X) \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\cong"] & \text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \arrow[r] \arrow[d, "\cong"] & 1 \end{tikzcd} $$

where $\varphi$ comes from (4-3). (The commutativity of the left square follows from the explicit descriptions of $\psi$ and $\varphi$; that of the right square follows from Remarks 4.2 (iv) and (i).) This diagram shows that $\rho$ is surjective, so that $\bar{Y}$ is indeed a finite descent type on $X$. In addition, it follows from this diagram and from the exact sequence (4-3) that the exact sequence (2-1) can be identified as indicated in the statement of the lemma. $\square$

**Lemma 4.10.** Let $Y \to X$ be a torsor of type $\bar{Y}$. There exists a unique action of $L$ on $Y$ such that the morphism $Y \to X$ is $L$-equivariant. With respect to this action, the variety $Y$ is a homogeneous space of $L$, and there exists a lifting $\bar{y} \in Y(\bar{k})$ of $\bar{x}$ whose stabiliser, as an algebraic subgroup of $L_{\bar{k}}$, is equal to $N$.
*Proof.* This lemma is valid over any field $k$ of characteristic 0. In order to prove it, we may and will assume that $k = \bar{k}$. Indeed, by Galois descent, the existence of the action of $L$ on $Y$ follows from its existence and uniqueness over $\bar{k}$; and all other conclusions of the lemma are of a geometric nature. Let us write $X = L/H_{\bar{x}}$ and fix an $X$-isomorphism $Y \simeq \bar{Y} = L/N$. The existence of an action of $L$ on $Y$ satisfying all of the conclusions of the lemma is now obvious, and we need only check its uniqueness. For the latter, the first paragraph of the proof of [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Proposition 5.1] applies verbatim (and it does not depend on the hypotheses of semisimplicity and simple connectedness made in loc. cit.). $\square$

By Lemma 4.9 and by assumption (2) of Theorem 4.5, the $X_{\bar{k}}$-scheme $\bar{Y}$ is a supersolvable finite descent type on $X$. Moreover, Lemma 4.10 and the final assumption of Theorem 4.5 ensure that for any torsor $Y \to X$ of type $\bar{Y}$, the set $Y(k)$ is a dense subset of $Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)}$ (respectively, the implication $Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow Y(k) \neq \emptyset$ holds). Theorem 3.1 now implies that the set $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$ (respectively, that $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow X(k) \neq \emptyset$). Thus, Theorem 4.5 is proved.

**4A4.** *A special case: homogeneous spaces of SL<sub>n</sub> with finite stabilisers.* We now spell out a useful corollary of Theorem 4.5 in the special case where $L = \text{SL}_n$ (Corollary 4.11 below). We shall apply it in Section 4A5 to the inverse Galois problem and to the Grunwald problem.

To prepare for the statement of Corollary 4.11, let us recall that a finite group is said to be *complete* if its centre is trivial and all its automorphisms are inner. We shall say that a finite group *N* is *almost complete* if its centre is trivial and the homomorphism Aut(*N*) → Out(*N*) admits a section.

**Corollary 4.11.** Let $G$ be a finite group equipped with an outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Let $X$ be a homogeneous space of $\text{SL}_n$ over a number field $k$, with geometric stabilisers isomorphic to $G$ as groups endowed with an outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Let $N \subseteq G$ be a normal subgroup stable under the outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Assume that the group $G/N$ is supersolvable, in the sense of Definition 2.6, with respect to the induced outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Then:

(i) If the finite group $N$ is almost complete, then $X(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow X(k) \neq \emptyset$.

(ii) If the finite group $N$ is almost complete and if, for any finite étale subgroup scheme $\tilde{N}$ of $\text{SL}_n$ over $k$ such that the groups $\tilde{N}(\bar{k})$ and $N$ are isomorphic, the weak approximation property holds for the quotient variety $\text{SL}_n / \tilde{N}$, then **Conjecture 1.1** holds for $X$.

(iii) If the finite group $N$ is complete and if, for any embedding $N \hookrightarrow \text{SL}_n(k)$, letting $\tilde{N}$ denote the constant subgroup scheme of $\text{SL}_n$ with $\tilde{N}(k) = N$, the weak approximation property holds for the quotient variety $\text{SL}_n / \tilde{N}$, then **Conjecture 1.1** holds for $X$.

In Corollary 4.11 (ii), we do not require any compatibility between the Galois action on $\tilde{N}(\bar{k})$ and the given outer Galois action on $G$. One could obtain a slightly more precise statement by doing so; see **Remark 4.6**.

*Proof of Corollary 4.11.* By Theorem 4.5, it is enough to prove that for any homogeneous space $Y$ of $\text{SL}_n$ over $k$ whose geometric stabilisers are isomorphic, as abstract groups, to $N$, **Conjecture 1.1** holds for $Y$ (respectively, the implication $Y(k_{\Omega})^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(Y)} \neq \emptyset \Rightarrow Y(k) \neq \emptyset$) holds if the assumptions of (ii) and of (iii)
(respectively, of (i)) are satisfied. We shall see that $Y$ even satisfies the weak approximation property (respectively, that $Y(k) \neq \emptyset$ unconditionally).

Let us fix a point $\bar{y} \in Y(\bar{k})$ and a group isomorphism $H_{\bar{y}}(\bar{k}) \simeq N$, and consider the resulting exact sequence

$$1 \to N \to G_{\bar{y}} \to \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to 1, \qquad (4-6)$$

where $G_{\bar{y}} = \{(\ell, \sigma) \in SL_n(\bar{k}) \times \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k); \ell\sigma(\bar{y}) = \bar{y}\}$. We endow $SL_n(\bar{k}) \times \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ with the product of the discrete topology on $SL_n(\bar{k})$ and the Krull topology on $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, and $G_{\bar{y}}$ with the induced topology, so that (4-6) becomes an exact sequence of profinite groups. By Lemma 4.12 below and by the hypothesis that $N$ is almost complete, this sequence admits a continuous homomorphic splitting $s: \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to G_{\bar{y}}$ and we can assume that the image of $s$ commutes with $N \subset G_{\bar{y}}$ if in addition $N$ is complete. Composing $s$ with the projection $G_{\bar{y}} \to SL_n(\bar{k})$ yields a continuous cocycle $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to SL_n(\bar{k})$. As the Galois cohomology set $H^1(k, SL_n)$ is a singleton (Hilbert's theorem 90), there exists $b \in SL_n(\bar{k})$ such that $s(\sigma) = (b^{-1}\sigma(b), \sigma)$ for all $\sigma \in \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. The very definition of $G_{\bar{y}}$ now shows that $\sigma(b\bar{y}) = b\bar{y}$ for all $\sigma \in \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, in other words $b\bar{y} \in Y(k)$. This already proves that $Y(k) \neq \emptyset$, and hence takes care of Corollary 4.11 (i). Let us denote by $\tilde{N} \subset SL_n$ the stabiliser of the rational point $b\bar{y} \in Y(k)$, so that $Y = SL_n/\tilde{N}$. As $\tilde{N}(\bar{k}) = bH_{\bar{y}}(\bar{k})b^{-1}$, the groups $\tilde{N}(\bar{k})$ and $N$ are isomorphic, and Corollary 4.11 (ii) follows. Finally, the condition that the image of $s$ commutes with $N$ is equivalent to $\sigma(bhb^{-1}) = bhb^{-1}$ for all $\sigma \in \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ and all $h \in H_{\bar{y}}(\bar{k})$; therefore this condition implies that $\tilde{N}$ is a constant group scheme over $k$, and Corollary 4.11 (iii) is proved. $\square$

**Lemma 4.12.** Let $N$ be a finite group with trivial centre. Then

(1) $N$ is almost complete if and only if every short exact sequence of profinite groups

$$1 \to N \to G \to H \to 1$$

splits as a semidirect product of profinite groups $G \cong N \times H$;

(2) $N$ is complete if and only if every short exact sequence of profinite groups

$$1 \to N \to G \to H \to 1$$

splits as a direct product of profinite groups $G \cong N \times H$.

*Proof.* As the centre of $N$ is trivial, the group of inner automorphisms of $N$ can be identified with $N$ and we have a short exact sequence of finite groups

$$1 \to N \to \mathrm{Aut}(N) \to \mathrm{Out}(N) \to 1. \qquad (4-7)$$

If (4-7) splits as a semidirect product, then $N$ is almost complete, by definition. If (4-7) splits as a direct product, then the outer action of $\mathrm{Out}(N)$ on $N$ induced by (4-7) is trivial. As this outer action coincides with the canonical outer action of $\mathrm{Out}(N)$ on $N$, it follows that $\mathrm{Out}(N)$ is trivial, i.e., $N$ is complete.
Conversely, let us assume that $N$ is almost complete (respectively, complete). Any short exact sequence as in the statement of the lemma canonically fits into a commutative diagram

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

where the middle vertical arrow sends $g \in G$ to the automorphism $z \mapsto gzg^{-1}$ of $N$. Thus, the upper row is obtained by pull-back from the lower row, and the upper row splits as a semidirect (respectively, direct) product if so does the lower row. $\square$

A full characterisation of almost complete simple groups is established in [Lucchini et al. 2003]. These include for example all the simple alternating groups $A_n$ for $n \neq 6$, all the sporadic simple groups and all Chevalley groups $L(F_p)/Z(L(F_p))$ where $p \geq 5$ is a prime and $L$ is a split simple simply connected algebraic group over $F_p$; see [Lucchini et al. 2003] and [Borel 1970, p. A-14]. In addition, if $G$ is a finite group all of whose composition factors are almost complete simple groups, then $G$ itself is almost complete, as can be seen by mimicking the proof of [Lucchini Arteche 2022, Theorem 2] and exploiting Lemma 4.12 above.

These remarks already provide many examples to which Corollary 4.11 (i) can be applied. We now illustrate, in Corollary 4.13, cases (ii) and (iii) of Corollary 4.11.

**Corollary 4.13.** Let $G$ be a finite group equipped with an outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Let $N \subseteq G$ be a normal subgroup stable under this outer action. Assume that the group $G/N$ is supersolvable, in the sense of Definition 2.6, with respect to the induced outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$. Assume that one of the following two conditions holds:

(1) $N$ is isomorphic to the symmetric group $S_m$ with $m \neq 6$;

(2) $N$ is isomorphic to the alternating group $A_5$.

Then **Conjecture 1.1** holds for any homogeneous space of $\text{SL}_n$ whose geometric stabilisers are isomorphic, as groups endowed with an outer action of $\text{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, to $G$.

It should be noted that Corollary 4.13 in case (2) with $G = N$ was first established by Boughattas and Neftin [2023], who gave in this way the first example of a nonabelian simple group $N$ such that **Conjecture 1.1** holds for any homogeneous space of $\text{SL}_n$ with geometric stabilisers isomorphic, as abstract groups, to $N$. We provide an alternative proof, based on the special properties of del Pezzo surfaces of degree 5.

*Proof of Corollary 4.13.* If $N = S_2$, the supersolvability of $G/N$ implies that of $G$ itself, and the conclusion results from Corollary 4.7. If $N = S_m$ with $m \notin \{2, 6\}$, then $N$ is a complete group for which the Noether problem has a positive answer. In this case, Corollary 4.11 (iii) can be applied: the variety $\text{SL}_n/\tilde{N}$ appearing in its statement is stably rational and, therefore, satisfies the weak approximation property.
It only remains to treat the case $N = A_5$, which is an almost complete finite group. We shall prove that Corollary 4.11 (ii) can be applied, i.e., that for any finite étale subgroup scheme $\tilde{N}$ of $SL_n$ over $k$ such that $\tilde{N}(\bar{k})$ is isomorphic to $A_5$, the variety $SL_n/\tilde{N}$ satisfies the weak approximation property; in fact, we shall even prove that $SL_n/\tilde{N}$ is stably rational.

Let $Y$ denote the split del Pezzo surface of degree 5 over $k$, i.e., the blow-up of $P_k^2$ along four rational points in general position, and fix group isomorphisms $\tilde{N}(\bar{k}) \simeq A_5$ and $\mathrm{Aut}(Y) \simeq S_5$; see [Dolgachev 2012, Theorem 8.5.8]. As $\mathrm{Aut}(A_5) = S_5$, the natural action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$ on $\tilde{N}(\bar{k})$ determines a homomorphism $\chi : \mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k) \to S_5$. Letting $S_5$ act on $A_5$ by conjugation, the twist by $\chi$ of the constant group scheme over $k$ associated with $A_5$ is $\tilde{N}$. Let $Y'$ denote the twist of $Y$ by $\chi$. As the action of $A_5$ on $Y$ is $S_5$-equivariant, it gives rise, upon twisting, to an action of $\tilde{N}$ on $Y'$. Let us now consider the diagonal right action of the group scheme $\tilde{N}$ on $SL_n \times_k Y$ and the two projections $\mathrm{pr}_1 : (SL_n \times_k Y')/\tilde{N} \to SL_n/\tilde{N}$ and $\mathrm{pr}_2 : (SL_n \times_k Y')/\tilde{N} \to Y'/\tilde{N}$. As the generic fibre of $\mathrm{pr}_2$ is a torsor under the rational algebraic group $SL_n$, it is itself rational, by Hilbert's theorem 90. As the generic fibre of $\mathrm{pr}_1$ is a del Pezzo surface of degree 5, it is also rational, by the work of Enriques [1897], Manin [1966] and Swinnerton-Dyer [1972]. The varieties $SL_n/\tilde{N}$ and $Y'/\tilde{N}$ are therefore stably birationally equivalent. To conclude the proof, let us check that the surface $Y'/\tilde{N}$ is rational. Let $Z \to Y'/\tilde{N}$ denote its minimal resolution of singularities. As $Y'$ is a del Pezzo surface of degree 5, the above-cited work of Enriques, Manin and Swinnerton-Dyer implies that $Y'$ is rational and hence that $Z(k) \neq \emptyset$. On the other hand, according to Trepalin [2018, end of proof of Lemma 4.5], the smooth projective surface $Z_{\bar{k}}$ is isomorphic to the Hirzebruch surface $P(\mathbb{O}_{P^1} \oplus \mathbb{O}_{P^1}(3))$ over $\bar{k}$. In particular, $K_Z^2 = 8$ and $Z$ is geometrically minimal, and hence minimal. All in all $Z$ is a minimal smooth projective geometrically rational surface with $K_Z^2 \ge 5$ and $Z(k) \neq \emptyset$; by the work of Iskovskikh and Manin, it follows that it is rational (see [Benoist and Wittenberg 2023, Proposition 4.16]), as desired. $\square$

**4A5. Inverse Galois problem.** In the situation of Theorem 4.5, let us assume that $X$ is the quotient of $L$ by a finite subgroup $\Gamma \subseteq L(k)$ viewed as a constant group scheme over $k$, and let $\bar{x}$ be the image of $1 \in L(k)$, so that $H_{\bar{x}} = \Gamma$. Then any normal subgroup $N \subseteq \Gamma$ is stable under the (trivial) outer action of $\mathrm{Gal}(\bar{k}/k)$, and the supersolvability condition on $\Gamma/N$ that appears in the statement of Theorem 4.5 reduces to the usual notion of supersolvability for abstract groups. When in addition $L = SL_n$, the conclusion of Theorem 4.5 implies a positive answer to the inverse Galois problem for $\Gamma$ (see [Harari 2007, §4, Proposition 1]) and, by a theorem of Lucchini Arteche, to the Grunwald problem outside of the finite places of $k$ dividing the order of $\Gamma$; see [Lucchini Arteche 2019, §6]. We shall refer to this version of the Grunwald problem as the *tame* Grunwald problem, following [Demarche et al. 2017, §1.2]. Thus, we obtain:

**Corollary 4.14.** Let $\Gamma$ be a finite group and $N \subset \Gamma$ be a normal subgroup such that $\Gamma/N$ is supersolvable. Let $k$ be a number field. Assume that the set $Y(k)$ is dense in $Y(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(Y)}$ for any $n \ge 1$ and any homogeneous space $Y$ of $SL_n$ over $k$ whose geometric stabilisers are isomorphic, as groups, to $N$. Then $\Gamma$ is a Galois group over $k$ and the tame Grunwald problem has a positive solution for $\Gamma$ over $k$.

The second assertion of the corollary means that if $S$ is a finite set of places of $k$ none of which divides the order of $\Gamma$ and if, for each $v \in S$, a Galois extension $K_v/k_v$ whose Galois group can be embedded
into $\Gamma$ is given, then there exists a Galois extension $K/k$ with Galois group $\Gamma$ such that for each $v \in S$, the completion of $K$ at a place dividing $v$ is isomorphic, as a field extension of $k_v$, to $K_v$.

When the subgroup $N$ is assumed to be trivial, Corollary 4.14 recovers the positive answer to the tame Grunwald problem for supersolvable finite groups obtained in [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, Corollaire au théorème B]. Indeed, in this case, Hilbert’s theorem 90 guarantees that $Y \simeq SL_n$, so that $Y$ is rational over $k$ and satisfies the weak approximation property.

Combining Corollary 4.13 for $G = N = A_5$ (due to Boughattas and Neftin [2023]) with Corollary 4.14 yields the following case of the tame Grunwald problem, which to our knowledge is new:

**Corollary 4.15.** Let $\Gamma = A_5 \times G$ be a semidirect product of $A_5$ with a finite supersolvable group $G$. Then $\Gamma$ is a Galois group over $k$ and the tame Grunwald problem has a positive solution for $\Gamma$ over $k$.

A more precise understanding of the unramified Brauer group of $SL_n / \Gamma$ leads, for some groups $\Gamma$, to a positive answer to the Grunwald problem with a smaller exceptional set of bad primes than in the conclusion of Corollary 4.14; see [Harpaz and Wittenberg 2020, p. 778]. If we do not exclude any prime, however, the Grunwald problem can have a negative answer under the assumptions of Corollary 4.14, as is well known; see [Wang 1948].

**4B. Norms from supersolvable extensions.** The following refinement of the inverse Galois problem was formulated by Frei, Loughran and Newton [2022]: given a number field $k$, a finite group $G$ and a finitely generated subgroup $A \subset k^*$, does there exist a Galois extension $K/k$ such that $\mathrm{Gal}(K/k) \simeq G$ and $A \subset N_{K/k}(K^*)$? We provide a positive answer when $G$ is supersolvable.

**Theorem 4.16.** Let $k$ be a number field and $A \subset k^*$ be a finitely generated subgroup. Let $G$ be a supersolvable finite group. There exists a Galois extension $K/k$ with Galois group isomorphic to $G$ such that every element of $A$ is a norm from $K$. Moreover, given a finite set of places $S$ of $k$, we can require that the places of $S$ split in $K$.

*Proof.* Let us fix an embedding $G \hookrightarrow SL_n(k)$ for some $n \ge 1$ and a finite system of generators $\alpha_1, \dots, \alpha_m$ of $A$. As in [Frei et al. 2022, §A.1], we let $T^\alpha \subset \prod_{g \in G} G_m$, for $\alpha \in k^*$, denote the subvariety, over $k$, whose $\bar{k}$-points are the maps $t:G \to \bar{k}^*$ such that $\prod_{g \in G} t(g) = \alpha$. Let us set

$$Y = SL_n \times T^{\alpha_1} \times \dots \times T^{\alpha_m} \quad \text{and} \quad L = SL_n \times T^1 \times \dots \times T^1,$$

with $m$ copies of $T^1$. Let $G$ act on the right on $T^\alpha$ (for any $\alpha$) by $(t \cdot g)(g') = t(gg')$. Let $G$ act on the right on $Y$ and on $L$ by the diagonal actions coming from the action just defined on the $T^\alpha$, from the right multiplication action on the copy of $SL_n$ appearing in $Y$, and from the trivial action on the copy of $SL_n$ appearing in $L$.

Set $X = Y/G$. The projection $\pi:Y \to X$ is a right torsor under $G$ since the action of $G$ on $SL_n$ by right multiplication is free. We view it as a left torsor by setting $g \cdot y = y \cdot g^{-1}$. Applying Corollary 3.3 as in Example 3.4 shows that $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_\Omega)^{\mathrm{Br}_{\mathrm{nr}}(X)}$. It follows that Ekedahl’s version of Hilbert’s irreducibility theorem, in the form spelled out in [Harari 2007, Lemme 1], can be applied to $\pi$.
Let us fix $y_0 \in Y(k)$. Recall that there exists a finite subset $S_0 \subset \Omega$ such that any $(x_v)_{v \in \Omega} \in X(k_\Omega)$ with $x_v = \pi(y_0)$ for all $v \in S_0$ belongs to $X(k_\Omega)^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$; see [Wittenberg 2018, Remarks 2.4 (i)–(ii)]. Let us fix such an $S_0$, and an $S$ as in the statement of Theorem 4.16. By [Harari 2007, Lemme 1], there exists $x \in X(k)$ such that the scheme $\pi^{-1}(x)$ is irreducible, with $x$ arbitrarily close to $\pi(y_0) \in X(k_v)$ for all $v \in S$.

The function field $K$ of $\pi^{-1}(x)$ is then a Galois extension of $k$ with group $G$, and the restriction to $\pi^{-1}(x)$ of the invertible function $(s, t_1, \dots, t_m) \mapsto t_i(1)$ on $Y$, where $1$ denotes the identity element of $G$, is an element of $K^*$ with norm $\alpha_i$. Moreover, as $\pi$ is étale, the implicit function theorem guarantees that if $x$ is sufficiently close to $\pi(y_0)$ in $k_v$ for $v \in S_0$, then $\pi^{-1}(x)$ possesses a $k_v$-point (close to $y_0$), so that $v$ splits in $K$. $\square$

**Remarks 4.17.** (i) In the particular case where the group $G$ is abelian, the existence of Galois extensions $K/k$ such that $\text{Gal}(K/k) \simeq G$ and $A \subset N_{K/k}(K^*)$ was first established by Frei, Loughran and Newton [2022, Theorem 1.1], who gave a quantitative estimate for the number of such field extensions with bounded conductor. In *op. cit.*, Appendix, we offered an alternative algebro-geometric proof of their result. A third proof was later given by Frei and Richard [2021].

(ii) In the particular case where the group $G$ is abelian, the proof of [Frei et al. 2022, Appendix] is simpler than the one obtained by specialising the above proof of Theorem 4.16. Indeed, the latter chooses a filtration of $G$ with cyclic quotients and proceeds by induction along this filtration, while the former consists in one step only.

(iii) When formulating Theorem 4.16, we might consider local conditions at a finite set of places $S$ more general than the condition that these places split in $K$; in the abelian case, this was done in [Frei et al. 2022, Corollary 4.12] and [Frei and Richard 2021, §2.4]. Even when a Galois extension of $k$ with group $G$ that satisfies the given local conditions is assumed to exist, arbitrary local conditions cannot always be satisfied when the group $G$ is a nonabelian finite supersolvable group; see [Frei et al. 2022, Proposition A.9] for an example. According to the proof of Theorem 4.16, this phenomenon is fully controlled by the Brauer–Manin obstruction to weak approximation on the variety $X$ that appears in this proof. In particular, there always exists a finite subset $T \subset \Omega$ such that arbitrary local conditions can be imposed at the places of $S$ as soon as $S \cap T = \emptyset$. To identify $T$ explicitly, however, it would be necessary to analyse further the group $\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)$.

The ideas underlying the proof of Theorem 4.16 can be applied to other similar problems. To conclude the article, we explain a slightly more general framework and give one example.

We fix a number field $k$, a finite group $G$ and a subgroup $H \subset G$ such that the only normal subgroup of $G$ contained in $H$ is the trivial subgroup, and we let $G$ act on the polynomial ring $k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}]$ by permuting the variables via $g(x_\gamma) = x_{g\gamma}$. We also fix a nonconstant invariant polynomial $\theta \in k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}]^G$.

Let us consider a $k$-algebra $\tilde{K}$ endowed with an action of $G$ that turns the morphism $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ into a $G$-torsor. Let $K = \tilde{K}^H$. When $\tilde{K}$ is a field, this amounts to specifying a field extension $K/k$, with Galois closure $\tilde{K}/k$, together with a group isomorphism $p: G \to \text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/k)$ such that $p(H) = \text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/K)$.
For $z \in K$ and $\gamma \in G/H$, if $\tilde{\gamma} \in G$ stands for a lift of $\gamma$, the element $\tilde{\gamma}(z) \in \tilde{K}$ does not depend on the choice of $\tilde{\gamma}$. We denote it by $\gamma(z)$. For $z \in K$, substituting $\gamma(z)$ for $x_\gamma$ in $\theta$ yields an element of $\tilde{K}$ that is invariant under $G$ and hence belongs to $k$. We denote it by $N_\theta(z)$. This defines a map $N_\theta : K \to k$. For example, if $\theta = \prod_\gamma x_\gamma$ (respectively, $\theta = \sum_\gamma x_\gamma$), we recover the norm (respectively, trace) map from $K$ to $k$.

Given a finite subset $A \subset k$, we can now ask: do there exist a field extension $K/k$, a Galois closure $\tilde{K}/k$ and an isomorphism $p$ as above, such that $A \subset N_\theta(K)$? When $H$ is trivial and $\theta = \prod_\gamma x_\gamma$, this is exactly the question considered in [Frei et al. 2022; 2021] and in Theorem 4.16. The proof of Theorem 4.16 extends to a positive answer to this more general question under some assumptions on $G$, $H$ and $\theta$, which we present in Theorem 4.18 below. To prepare for its statement, let us introduce, for $\alpha \in k$, the affine variety $V^\alpha = \text{Spec}(k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}]/(\theta - \alpha))$. As $\theta$ is invariant under $G$, the group $G$ naturally acts on $V^\alpha$. We set $V = \prod_{\alpha \in A} V^\alpha$ and equip this product with the diagonal action of $G$.

**Theorem 4.18.** Let $k$ be a number field. Let $G$ be a supersolvable finite group and $H \subseteq G$ be a subgroup such that the only normal subgroup of $G$ contained in $H$ is the trivial subgroup. Let $\theta \in k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}]^G$ be a nonconstant invariant polynomial. Let $A \subset k$ be a finite subset. Let $V$ be the variety associated with $H$, $G$, $\theta$, $A$ as above. Let $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ be a $G$-torsor. Assume that the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) letting $K_0 = \tilde{K}_0^H$, the inclusion $A \subset N_\theta(K_0)$ holds;

(2) the variety $V$ is smooth and rationally connected;

(3) for every $[\sigma] \in H^1(k, G)$, **Conjecture 1.1** holds for the twisted variety $V^\sigma$.

Then there exist a field extension $K/k$, a Galois closure $\tilde{K}/k$ of $K/k$, and a group isomorphism $p : G \to \text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/k)$, such that $p(H) = \text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/K)$ and $A \subset N_\theta(K)$. If, moreover, a finite set of places $S$ of $k$ is given, we can require that for all $v \in S$, the $k_v$-algebras $\tilde{K} \otimes_k k_v$ and $\tilde{K}_0 \otimes_k k_v$ are $G$-equivariantly isomorphic (so that the $k_v$-algebras $K \otimes_k k_v$ and $K_0 \otimes_k k_v$ are isomorphic).

**Remarks 4.19.** (i) If $[\sigma_0] \in H^1(k, G)$ denotes the class of the torsor $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$, the twisted variety $V^{\sigma_0}$ admits a rational point if and only if $A \subset N_\theta(K_0)$. To explain why, we first note that the twist of the affine space $\text{Spec}(k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}])$ by $\sigma_0$ can be identified with the Weil restriction $R_{K_0/k} A_{K_0}^1$. As the regular function $\theta$ on this affine space is invariant under $G$, it induces a regular function on its twist. We view it as a morphism $N_\theta : R_{K_0/k} A_{K_0}^1 \to A_k^1$. For $\alpha \in A$, the twist of $V^\alpha$ by $\sigma_0$ is then the fibre $N_\theta^{-1}(\alpha)$. The latter possesses a rational point if and only if $\alpha \in N_\theta(K_0)$; hence the claim.

(ii) The group $G$ acts faithfully, and therefore generically freely, on $V$. Indeed $G$ acts faithfully on $G/H$ by our assumption on $H$, hence it also acts faithfully on $k[(x_\gamma)_{\gamma \in G/H}]$, while $\theta - \alpha$ is not a scalar multiple of $x_{\gamma_1} - x_{\gamma_2}$ for any $\gamma_1, \gamma_2 \in G/H$.

(iii) Let $V'$ be the largest open subset of $V$ on which $G$ acts freely. If $(V'/G)(k) \neq \emptyset$, then a $G$-torsor $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ satisfying assumption (1) of Theorem 4.18 exists. Indeed, for $c \in (V'/G)(k)$, twisting the $G$-torsor $V' \to V'/G$ by its fibre $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ above $c$ yields
a $G$-torsor $(V')^{\sigma_0} \to V'/G$ whose total space admits rational points (namely, rational points above $c$).
Assumption (1) then holds by Remark 4.19 (i).

*Proof of Theorem 4.18.* We adapt the proof of Theorem 4.16 as follows. Fix an embedding $G \hookrightarrow SL_n(k)$ for some $n \ge 1$. Set $Y = SL_n \times_V Y$. Let $G$ act by right multiplication on $SL_n$, by the given action on $V$, and diagonally on $Y$. Set $X = Y/G$. Let $\tilde{\pi} : Y \to X$ and $\pi : Y/H \to X$ denote the quotient maps.

**Lemma 4.20.** There exists $x_0 \in X(k)$ such that $\tilde{\pi}^{-1}(x_0)$ and $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0)$ are $G$-equivariantly isomorphic over $k$.

*Proof.* Let us consider the cartesian square

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

As the set $H^1(k, SL_n)$ is a singleton (Hilbert's theorem 90), there exists $b \in (SL_n/G)(k)$ such that $\tilde{\rho}^{-1}(b)$ is $G$-equivariantly isomorphic to $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0)$ (apply [Serre 1994, Chapitre I, §5.4, Corollaire 1] to the inclusion $G \hookrightarrow SL_n(\tilde{k})$). The fibre $(\text{pr}_1/G)^{-1}(b)$ is then isomorphic to the twist of $V$ by the torsor $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$. By Remark 4.19 (i), we deduce from this and from our assumption (1) that $(\text{pr}_1/G)^{-1}(b)$ possesses a rational point, say $x_0$. As $\tilde{\pi}^{-1}(x_0) = \tilde{\rho}^{-1}(b)$, the lemma is proved. $\square$

Assumptions (2) and (3) allow us to deduce from Corollary 3.3 that $X(k)$ is a dense subset of $X(k_\Omega)^{\text{Br}_{\text{nr}}(X)}$. Therefore, there exists $x \in X(k)$ such that the scheme $\tilde{\pi}^{-1}(x)$ is irreducible, with $x$ arbitrarily close to $x_0 \in X(k_v)$ for all $v \in S$; see [Harari 2007, Lemme 1]. Let $\tilde{K}$ and $K$ denote the function fields of $\tilde{\pi}^{-1}(x)$ and $\pi^{-1}(x)$, respectively. The field extension $\tilde{K}/k$ is Galois with group $G$, and we have $\text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/K) = H$ by construction. By choosing $x$ sufficiently close to $x_0$ for $v \in S$, we can ensure that for all $v \in S$, the $k_v$-algebras $\tilde{K} \otimes_k k_v$ and $\tilde{K}_0 \otimes_k k_v$ are $G$-equivariantly isomorphic; see [Harari and Skorobogatov 2002, Lemma 4.6]. It remains to check that $A \subset N_\theta(K_0)$. For $\alpha \in A$, composing the projection map $Y \to V^\alpha$ with the regular function on $V^\alpha$ given by $x_H$ (where $H$ denotes the canonical point of $G/H$) yields a regular function on $Y$ that is invariant under $H$, hence descends to a regular function on $Y/H$. Its restriction $z \in K$ to $\pi^{-1}(x)$ satisfies $N_\theta(z) = \alpha$, as desired. $\square$

**Example 4.21.** When $\theta = \prod_\gamma x_\gamma$ and $A \subset k^*$, the varieties $V^\alpha$ are trivial torsors under trivial tori, so that $V$ is rational over $k$ and assumptions (1) and (2) of Theorem 4.18 both hold, in view of Remark 4.19 (i), if we take for $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ the trivial torsor. Assumption (3) holds as well, as the twisted varieties $(V^\alpha)^\sigma$ are torsors under tori; see Example 3.4. When in addition $H$ is the trivial subgroup, this recovers Theorem 4.16.

**Example 4.22.** Let $k$ be a number field and $\alpha \in k^*$. Then there exists a cubic extension $K/k$ such that the equation $\alpha = \text{Tr}_{K/k}(\beta^2)$ has a solution $\beta \in K$.

To see this, we apply Theorem 4.18 to the symmetric group $G = S_3$, to the subgroup $H$ generated by a transposition, to $\theta = \sum_\gamma x_\gamma^2$ and to $A = \{\alpha\}$. Let us check that its hypotheses hold. To this end, we identify
$G/H$ with $\{1, 2, 3\}$, so that $V^\alpha$ is the smooth affine quadric surface defined by the equation $x_1^2+x_2^2+x_3^2=\alpha$. The twisted varieties $(V^\alpha)^\sigma \subset (A_k^3)^\sigma$ are also smooth affine quadric surfaces, since $(A_k^3)^\sigma \simeq A_k^3$ (Hilbert's theorem 90). Smooth quadric surfaces are rationally connected and satisfy the weak approximation property, hence assumptions (2) and (3) of **Theorem 4.18** are satisfied. To verify the existence of a torsor $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ satisfying (1), we consider the point $(x_1, x_2, x_3) = (0, \sqrt{\alpha}/2, -\sqrt{\alpha}/2)$. In the notation of **Remark 4.19 (iii)**, this point belongs to $V'(\tilde{k}) \subset V^\alpha(\tilde{k})$ since its coordinates are pairwise distinct. As its orbit under $\text{Gal}(\tilde{k}/k)$ is contained in its orbit under $G$, we have $(V'/G)(k) \neq \emptyset$; **Remark 4.19 (iii)** can be applied.

**Remark 4.23.** We note that the cubic extensions constructed in **Example 4.22** are noncyclic. A cyclic cubic extension $K/k$ such that the equation $\alpha = \text{Tr}_{K/k}(\beta^2)$ has a solution $\beta \in K$ need not exist: for instance, it cannot exist if $\alpha$ is not totally positive. This is a situation where **Theorem 4.18** does not apply because there is no torsor $\text{Spec}(\tilde{K}_0) \to \text{Spec}(k)$ satisfying its assumption (1) (taking $G = \mathbb{Z}/3\mathbb{Z}$ and letting $H$ be trivial). Similarly, even in the noncyclic case, it is not always possible to ensure that the places of a finite set $S \subset \Omega$ split completely in $K$; for instance, this cannot be achieved if $S$ contains a real place at which $\alpha$ is negative. Here $(V'/G)(k) \neq \emptyset$, as shown in **Example 4.22**, but $V(k) = \emptyset$. These two observations exhibit a marked contrast with the situation considered in **Theorem 4.16** and in **Example 4.21**, where $V(k) \neq \emptyset$ automatically.

## Acknowledgement

We are grateful to David Harari, to Dasheng Wei and to the referee for their comments on a first version of this article.

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[Wittenberg 2018] O. Wittenberg, "Rational points and zero-cycles on rationally connected varieties over number fields", pp. 597–635 in *Algebraic geometry* (Salt Lake City, UT, 2015), edited by T. de Fernex et al., Proc. Sympos. Pure Math. **97.2**, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2018. MR Zbl

Communicated by Bjorn Poonen

Received 2022-07-05 Revised 2023-04-30 Accepted 2023-06-14

harpaz@math.univ-paris13.fr Institut Galilée, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France

wittenberg@math.univ-paris13.fr Institut Galilée, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France
# Algebra & Number Theory

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Algebra & Number Theory

Volume 18 No. 4 2024

<table><tbody><tr><td>Fundamental exact sequence for the pro-étale fundamental group<br>MARCIN LARA</td><td>631</td></tr><tr><td>Infinitesimal dilogarithm on curves over truncated polynomial rings<br>SINAN ÜNVER</td><td>685</td></tr><tr><td>Wide moments of L-functions I: Twists by class group characters of imaginary quadratic fields<br>ASBJØRN CHRISTIAN NORDENTOFT</td><td>735</td></tr><tr><td>On Ozaki's theorem realizing prescribed p-groups as p-class tower groups<br>FARSHID HAJIR, CHRISTIAN MAIRE and RAVI RAMAKRISHNA</td><td>771</td></tr><tr><td>Supersolvable descent for rational points<br>YONATAN HARPAZ and OLIVIER WITTENBERG</td><td>787</td></tr><tr><td>On Kato and Kuzumaki's properties for the Milnor K<sub>2</sub> of function fields of p-adic curves<br>DIEGO IZQUIERDO and GIANCARLO LUCCHINI ARTECHE</td><td>815</td></tr></tbody></table>