Norms of lines on cubic surfaces (Q1799525): Difference between revisions

Let \(k\) be an arbitrary field and let \(X\subset\mathbb{P}^3\) be a smooth cubic surface defined over \(k\). If \(\overline{k}\) is the separable closure of \(k\) and \(\overline{X}=X\times_k \overline{k}\), then it is known that \(\mathrm{Pic}(\overline{X})\) is generated by the lines on \(\overline{X}\). The present paper is concerned with the subgroup \(\Delta\) of \(\mathrm{Pic}(X)\) generated by norms \(N_{K/k}(L)\) of \(K\)-lines \(L\) on \(X\times_k K\), for \(K\) running over all finite seperable extensions \(K/k\). It is proved that \(\Delta=\mathrm{Pic}(X)\) as soon as \(X\) has a \(k\)-line, and in general that \(\mathrm{Pic}(X)/\Delta\) is a finite 3-group. For the proof one begins by studying the case in which there is a \(k\)-line, so that there is a fibration into conics. The key step is then to show that if the fibration admits a section then there is in fact a section given by a line.