The chain lemma for biquaternion algebras. (Q420717)

Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic different from \(2\), and let \(A\) be a biquaternion algebra over \(F\), i.e. a tensor product of two quaternion \(F\)-algebras. It is easy to see that a decomposition of \(A\) into a tensor product of two quaternion \(F\)-algebras is not unique, and there is no canonical one. The paper under review proves that any two decompositions of \(A\) can be connected by a chain of decompositions in which neighbouring ones do not differ ``too much''. Its main result is an analogue to the chain lemma in the theory of quadratic forms [see, e.g., \textit{T. Y. Lam}, Introduction to quadratic forms over fields. Graduate Studies in Mathematics 67. Providence: AMS (2005; Zbl 1068.11023)], for a quaternion algebra. Specifically, let \(A\cong D_1\otimes_FD_1'\cong D_2\otimes_FD_2'\) be two decompositions of \(A\) of the considered type. We say that these decompositions are simply-equivalent, if there exist elements \(x,y,a,c\in F\) satisfying the following two conditions: (i) the quadratic extensions \(F(\sqrt a)\) and \(F(\sqrt c)\) of \(F\) are splitting fields of the \(F\)-algebras \(D_1\) and \(D_1'\), respectively; (ii) \(D_2\) and \(D_2'\) are Brauer equivalent to the biquaternion algebras \(D_1\otimes_F(a,x^2-acy^2)\) and \(D_1'\otimes_F(c,x^2-acy^2)\), respectively. When this holds, for \(x=0\) and \(y=1\), the decompositions are said to be strongly simply-equivalent. Two decompositions of \(A\) are called equivalent, if they can be connected by a chain of decompositions so that every two neighbouring decompositions in the chain be simply-equivalent. The notion of strongly equivalent decompositions is defined similarly. The main result of the present paper states that any two biquaternion decompositions of \(A\) are equivalent and can be connected by a chain of length 3. It shows that this bound is strict, i.e. there exists a pair of biquaternion decompositions of \(A\), which cannot be connected by a chain of length \(2\). A similar result is obtained for decompositions of a biquaternion algebra into a sum of three quaternion \(F\)-algebras in case \(F\) has no cubic extension. Also, the author proves that any two biquaternion decompositions of \(A\) are strongly equivalent and can be connected by a chain of length \(6\).