Galois theory over rings of arithmetic power series

Let R be a domain, complete with respect to a norm which defines a non-discrete topology on R. We prove that the quotient field of R is ample, generalizing a theorem of Pop. We then consider the case where R is a ring of arithmetic power series which are holomorphic on the closed disc of radius 0 < r < 1 around the origin, and apply the above result to prove that the absolute Galois group of the quotient field of R is semi-free. This strengthens a theorem of Harbater, who solved the inverse Galois problem over these fields. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.