On Karoubi's theorem: \(W(A)=W(A[t])\) (Q801028): Difference between revisions

Let A be an associative ring with involution in which 2 is invertible and fix \(\epsilon =\pm 1\). An \(\epsilon\)-Hermitian space (M,q) over A consists of a finitely generated projective right A-module and an A- linear isomorphism \(q: M\to^{\simeq}M^*=Hom_ A(M,A)\) such that \(q=\epsilon q^*\), where \(M^*\) is viewed as a right A-module via the involution of A. The Witt group \(W_{\epsilon}(A)\) is the quotient of the free abelian group on the set of (suitably defined) isometry classes of \(\epsilon\)-Hermitian spaces by the subgroup generated by the hyperbolic spaces. In this paper, the author gives a short and simple proof of Karoubi's theorem: the inclusion of A into the polynomial ring A[t] induces an isomorphism \(W_{\epsilon}(A)\to W_{\epsilon}(A[t])\).