Relations in the maximal pro-$p$ quotients of absolute Galois groups

Abstract

We observe that some basic but fundamental constructions in Galois theory can be used to obtain some interesting restrictions on the structure of Galois groups of maximal $p$-extensions of fields containing a primitive $p$th root of unity. This is an extension of some significant ideas of Demushkin, Labute and Serre from local fields to all fields containing a primitive $p$th root of unity. Our techniques use certain natural simple Galois extensions together with some considerations in Galois cohomology and Massey products.