On algebraic closure in pseudofinite fields

Abstract

AbstractWe study the automorphism group of the algebraic closure of a substructureAof a pseudo-finite fieldF. We show that the behavior of this group, even whenAis large, depends essentially on the roots of unity inF. For almost all completions of the theory of pseudofinite fields, we show that overA, algebraic closure agrees with definable closure, as soon asAcontains the relative algebraic closure of the prime field.