A converse to the Hasse-Arf theorem

Abstract

Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of local fields. The Hasse-Arf theorem says that if Gal$(L/K)$ is abelian then the upper ramification breaks of $L/K$ must be integers. We prove the following converse to the Hasse-Arf theorem: Let $G$ be a nonabelian group which is isomorphic to the Galois group of some totally ramified extension $E/F$ of local fields with residue characteristic $p>2$. Then there is a totally ramified extension of local fields $L/K$ with residue characteristic $p$ such that Gal$(L/K)\cong G$ and $L/K$ has at least one nonintegral upper ramification break.