Reduction modulo $p$ of the Noether problem

Abstract

Let $R$ be a complete valuation ring of mixed characteristic $(0,p)$ with algebraically closed fraction field $K$ and residue field $k$. Let $X/R$ be a smooth projective morphism. We show that if $X_k$ is stably rational, then $H^3(X_K,{\mathbb{Z}}_p)$ is torsion-free. The proof uses integral $p$-adic Hodge theory of Bhatt-Morrow-Scholze and the study of differential forms in positive characteristic. We then apply this result to study the Noether problem for finite $p$-groups.

8 pages, final version. To appear in Algebra and Number Theory