Is there an algebraic number field $F\supsetneq\mathbb{Q}$ such that all rational primes are inert in $\mathcal{O}_F$?
2026-03-26 14:42:30.1774536150
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Algebraic number fields in which all rational primes are inert
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There are many good reasons why such a number field cannot exist, but here it is an elementary one: if $F=\mathbb Q(\alpha)$, with $\alpha$ a root of $f\in \mathbb Z[x]$ monic irreducible of degree $>1$ and $p$ is an inert prime in $F$, then $f$ is irreducible modulo $p$. However, $f(\mathbb Z)$ must be strictly bigger than $\{0,\pm1\}$ since otherwise it would be constant. Thus, there exists $n\in\mathbb Z$ such that $f(n)\neq 0,\pm1$. But then by the fundamental theorem of algebra there exists a prime number $p$ such that $p\mid f(n)$. This shows that $f$ has a root modulo $p$, hence it is not irreducible!
A sledgehammer proof of the fact that there is no such number field uses Minkowski's Theorem to the effect that every number field $F\neq\mathbf Q$ is ramified over $\mathbf Q$. This means that there is at least one rational prime that ramifies in $F$. Such a prime is not inert.