Variations on a theme of rationality of cycles (Q352707)

Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic different from 2 and let \(\bar{F}\) be a fixed algebraic closure of \(F\). Let \(Y\) be a smooth quasi-projective \(F\)-scheme. Write \(\mathrm{CH}(Y)=\bigoplus_{d\geq 0}\mathrm{CH}^d(Y)\) for the (integral) Chow group of \(Y\) and \(\mathrm{Ch}(Y)\) for \(\mathrm{CH}(Y)\otimes(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})\). For any geometrically integral \(F\)-variety \(X\), an element of \(\mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}})\) is said to be \(F(X)\)-rational if its image in \(\mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}(X)})\) lies in the image of the canonical map \(\mathrm{CH}(Y_{F(X)})\to \mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}(X)})\). In particular, an element of \(\mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}})\) is \(F\)-rational if it belongs to the image of \(\mathrm{CH}(Y)\to \mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}})\). Rationality for elements of \(\mathrm{Ch}(Y)\) is defined similarly. Consider a smooth projective quadric \(Q\) over \(F\). In an earlier work of \textit{A. Vishik} [Manuscr. Math. 122, No. 3, 365--374 (2007; Zbl 1154.14003)], results on the comparison of \(F(Q)\)-rational cycles and \(F\)-rational cycles were obtained in characteristic 0, using symmetric operations in the theory of algebraic cobordisms. The paper under review establishes certain weak versions of Vishik's results in any characteristic \(\neq 2\). Without appealing to tools from the algebraic cobordism theory, the author uses the Steenrod operations on the module 2 Chow groups instead. Aside from this difference, the proofs follow the main ideas in Vishik's work. More precisely, the present paper proves among others the following theorems: Theorem 2.1. For any integer \(m<\frac{1}{2}\dim Q\), any \(F(Q)\)-rational element of \(\mathrm{CH}^m(Y_{\bar F})\) is congruent modulo 2 and 2-torsion to an \(F\)-rational element. Theorem 3.2. Assume \(Y\) is geometrically integral. Write \(m=[\frac{1+\dim Q}{2}]\). If \(\mathrm{CH}(Y_{\bar{F}})\) has no 2-torsion and the quadric \(Q_{F(Y)}\) is not completely split, then any \(F(Q)\)-rational element of \(\mathrm{Ch}^m(Y_{\bar F})\) is \(F\)-rational. The weak versions of Vishik's results obtained in this paper are already sufficient for existing applications. In particular, it is shown that for any integer \(r\geq 3\), any field of characteristic \(\neq 2\) is contained in a field of \(u\)-invariant \(2^r+1\). This extends Vishik's version to arbitrary characteristic \(\neq 2\).