On chains in division algebras of degree 3. (Q2271993)

Let \(F\) be a field containing a primitive cube root of unity \(\omega\), and let \(D\) be an \(F\)-central division algebra of Schur index \(3\). A noncentral element \(x\in D\) is called Kummer, if \(x^3\in F\). If \(x\) and \(y\) are Kummer and \(yx=\omega xy\), the pair \((x,y)\) is called an \(\omega\)-pair (notation \(x\to y\)). It is well-known (due to Wedderburn) that \(D\) contains an \(\omega\)-pair. By a chain from \(x\) to \(y\), we mean a finite sequence \(x=x_0\to x_1\to x_2\to\cdots\to x_n=y\). The integer \(n\) is called the length of the chain. As shown by \textit{M. Rost} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 328, No. 3, 185-190 (1999; Zbl 0934.12001)], any two Kummer elements \(x,y\in D\) are connected by a chain of length \(4\). The paper under review presents two new proofs of this result. The first one is geometric. More precisely, for each \(x\in D\), let \(X^3-\text{Tr}(x)t^2+\text{Sr}(x)t-\text{Nr}(x)\in F[t]\) be the reduced characteristic polynomial of \(x\), and let \(D_0\) be the set of elements of \(D\) of reduced trace \(0\). Using the fact that the quadratic form \(\text{Sr}\) on \(D_0\) has a polar bilinear form \(b(x,y)=-\text{Tr}(xy)\), and it is hyperbolic, and applying Springer's theorem, the authors deduce that \(\text{Sr}\) has Witt index \(4\) (as a form on \(D\)) and so is hyperbolic on \(D_0\). Observing that the totally isotropic subspaces of \(D_0\) form a certain polar space, they prove Rost's theorem by analyzing the geometry of this space. In addition, they prove that each pair of Kummer elements \(x,y\in D\) with \(\text{Tr}(xy)=0\) can be connected by a chain of length \(3\). The second proof of this result is algebraic and provides an explicit formula for a chain of length \(4\) between two Kummer elements.