TITLE: Do finite algebraically closed fields exist?
QUESTION [44 upvotes]: Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field ($\operatorname{char}K=p$). Denote
$${\mathbb F}_{p^n}=\{x\in K\mid x^{p^n}-x=0\}.$$
It's easy to prove that ${\mathbb F}_{p^n}$ consists of exactly $p^n$ elements.
But if $|K|<p^n$, we have collision with previous statement (because ${\mathbb F}_{p^n}$ is subfield of $K$).
So, are there any finite algebraically closed fields? And if they exist, where have I made a mistake?
Thanks.

REPLY [6 votes]: As an alternative approach, suppose we have a field $K$ such that $\overline{K}$, the algebraic closure of $K$, is finite (and we'll also assume that $\vert K \vert >1$).  It is clear that $K$ must then be finite, so $K=\mathbb{F}_p^n$ for some prime $p$ and some $n\in \mathbb{N}$.
However, for $i \vert j$, we have $\mathbb{F}_{p^i}$ isomorphic to a subfield of $\mathbb{F}_{p^j}$.  Thus, $\overline{K}=\overline{\mathbb{F}_{p^n}}=\bigcup\limits_{n\vert m} \mathbb{F}_{p^m}$, which is infinite.
Therefore the algebraic closure of any (non-trivial) field is infinite.