An undecidability result for the asymptotic theory of $p$-adic fields

TL;DR

This paper proves that the set of sentences true in all but finitely many finite extensions of the p-adic field is undecidable, using a reduction to characteristic p and adapting existing proofs of undecidability.

Contribution

It establishes an undecidability result for the asymptotic theory of p-adic fields, answering a question posed by Derakhshan and Macintyre.

Findings

Undecidability of the asymptotic theory of p-adic fields.

Reduction to characteristic p for the proof.

Extension of Pheidas' method to p-adic fields.

Abstract

Fix a prime $p$. We prove that the set of sentences true in all but finitely many finite extensions of $\mathbb{Q}_p$ is undecidable in the language of valued fields with a cross-section. The proof goes via reduction to characteristic $p$, adapting Pheidas' proof of the undecidability of $\mathbb{F}_p(\!(t)\!)$ with a predicate for powers of $t$. This answers a variant of a question of Derakhshan-Macintyre.