Rationally isotropic quadratic spaces are locally isotropic (Q1014248): Difference between revisions

Let \(R\) be a regular local ring with the field of fractions \(K\) and let \((V,\varphi)\) be a quadratic space over \(R\). The main theorem of the paper says that if \(R\) contains a field of characteristic zero and \((V,\varphi)\otimes_R K\) is isotropic, then \((V,\varphi)\) is isotropic over \(R\). This answers the characteristic zero case of a question asked by \textit{J.-P. Colliot-Thélène} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr., Suppl., Mém. 59, 13--31 (1979; Zbl 0407.10018)]. The author is successful in proving the main result by using the so called moving lemma from the book by \textit{M. Levine} and \textit{F. Morel} [Algebraic cobordism. Springer Monogr. Math. Berlin: Springer (2007; Zbl 1188.14015)] together with the generalization of Springer's theorem from the joint paper of the author and \textit{U. Rehmann} [St. Petersbg. Math. J. 19, No. 6, 953--959 (2008); translation from Algebra Anal. 19, 117--125 (2007; Zbl 1206.13008)]. As a corollary one obtains a purity theorem that says that if \((W,\psi)\) is a quadratic space over \(K\) which is unramified over \(R\), then \((W,\psi)\) is isomorphic to \((V,\varphi)\otimes_R K\) for some quadratic space \((V,\varphi)\) over \(R\). This generalizes the result of the author and \textit{M. Ojanguren} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 32, No. 1, 71--86 (1999; Zbl 0980.11025)].