Braid orbits and the Mathieu group $M_{23}$ as Galois group

Abstract

At present, the inverse Galois problem over $\mathbb{Q}$ is unsolved for the Mathieu group $M_{23}$. Here an overview of the current state in realizing $M_{23}$ as Galois group using the rigidity method and the action of braids is given. Computing braid orbits for $M_{23}$ revealed new invariants of the action of braids in addition to Fried's lifting invariant. These invariants can be used to construct generic braid orbits and more Galois realizations over $\mathbb{Q}$ for the Mathieu group $M_{24}$, but until now did not lead to success for realising $M_{23}$ as Galois group over $\mathbb{Q}$. Thus $M_{23}/\mathbb{Q}$ remains open. Finally, heuristics for searching suitable class vectors with regard to the realization of groups as Galois groups are given.