So there are easy examples for algebraic closures that have index two and infinite index: $\mathbb{C}$ over $\mathbb{R}$ and the algebraic numbers over $\mathbb{Q}$. What about the other indices?


EDIT: Of course $\overline{\mathbb{Q}} \neq \mathbb{C}$. I don't know what I was thinking.



Examples of algebraic closures of finite index
Theorem (Artin-Schreier, 1927): Let K be an algebraically closed field and F a proper subfield of K with $[K:F] < \infty$. Then F is real-closed and $K = F(\sqrt{-1})$.


See e.g. Jacobson, Basic Algebra II, Theorem 11.14.


