TITLE: Congruences mod primes in Galois extensions
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: I have the following situation: let $m,n$ be integers such that $m|n$ and let $\zeta_m$, $\zeta_n$ denote  primitive $m$ and $n$th roots of unity. Then we have the inclusion of  fields
$$\mathbb{Q}\subset \mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m) \subset \mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)$$
Now suppose we also have primes (where $(p,n)=1$)
$$(p)\subset \mathbb{Z}$$
 and then 
$$\mathfrak{p}\subset \mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$$
 lying over $(p)$ and 
$$\mathfrak{P}\subset \mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)$$
 lying over $\mathfrak{p}$.
I have a congruence in $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)$ of the form $a\equiv b \pmod{\mathfrak{P}}$, where $a,b$ are actually elements of $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$.
What can I say about the congruence properties of $a,b$ in $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$? More importantly, if I take the trace or the  norm down to $\mathbb{Q}$, can I say anything about their congruence properties there? Ideally I'd like a congruence of something in the integers.
Thanks!
Edit: Are there any assumptions that you can make that might give congruences mod a prime power?

REPLY [5 votes]: Sure.  $a\equiv b\pmod{\mathfrak{P}}$ just means $a-b\in\mathfrak{P}$.  Taking norms to any subfield $K$ of $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)$ (e.g., $\mathbb{Q}$ or $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$) gives you $N_{\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_n)/K}(a-b)\in N_{\mathbb{Q(\zeta_n)}/K}\mathfrak{P}.$  
For $K=\mathbb{Q}$, the latter norm is just $p^f$ where $f$ is the order of $p\pmod{n}$.
For $K=\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$, the former norm is $(a-b)^{\phi(n)/\phi(m)}$ and the latter is $\mathfrak{p}^{f'}$, where $f'$ is the easily-calculated relative residue degree.  
This doesn't give you an explicit congruence between $a$ and $b$, but given Gerry's answer, that might have been too much to ask for anyway.  On the other hand, if $\phi(n)/\phi(m)$ is small or (as in Alex's answer) if $p$ has few factors in $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_m)$, you get something at least slightly non-stupid out.