Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 July 2019
For any prime number $p$ and field
$k$, we characterize the
$p$-retract rationality of an algebraic
$k$-torus in terms of its character lattice. We show that a
$k$-torus is retract rational if and only if it is
$p$-retract rational for every prime
$p$, and that the Noether problem for retract rationality for a group of multiplicative type
$G$ has an affirmative answer for
$G$ if and only if the Noether problem for
$p$-retract rationality for
$G$ has a positive answer for all
$p$. For every finite set of primes
$S$ we give examples of tori that are
$p$-retract rational if and only if
$p\notin S$.