Levels and sublevels of composition algebras (Q2381843)

The level \(s(R)\) (resp. sublevel \(\underline{s}(R)\)) of a unitary ring \(R\) is defined to be the smallest \(n\) such that \(-1\) (resp.\ \(0\)) can be written as a sum of \(n\) (resp.\(n+1\)) nonzero squares in \(R\), provided this is possible at all. Otherwise, the (sub)level is defined to be \(\infty\). Note that \(\underline{s}(R)\leq s(R)\) and that equality always holds if \(R\) is a field. A famous result by Pfister states that the level of a field is always a \(2\)-power or infinite, and that all these values can be realized. Various authors have studied (sub)levels of division algebras, in particular quaternion algebras. The aim of this paper is to generalize some of these results to octonion algebras. One of the main results of the present paper (Theorem 3.11) is to show that if \(C\) is a quaternion or octonion algebra over a field \(F\) of characteristic not \(2\), then for \(k\geq 2\), \(\underline{s}(C)=2^k-1\) implies \(s(C)=2^k-1\), \(s(C)=2^k\) implies \(\underline{s}(C)=2^k\), and for \(k\geq 1\), \(s(C)=2^k+1\) implies \(\underline{s}(C)\in\{ 2^k, 2^k+1\}\). This has been shown before in the case of quaternion algebras by \textit{D.~Leep} [Glasg.\ Math.\ J.\ 32, No. 3, 365--370 (1990; Zbl 0727.12004)]. The main tool is to relate estimates on the level and sublevel with the isotropy behavior of certain subforms of multiples of the trace form of the respective quaternion or octonion algebra, similar to earlier work by D.W.~Lewis and by D.~Leep. Various constructions and examples of quaternion and octonion algebras of level \(2^k\) and \(2^k+1\) are given, and also of octonion algebras of sublevel \(3\) resp. \(5\). The first examples of quaternion algebras of level not of type \(2^k\) or \(2^k+1\) have been constructed by the reviewer [Arch. Math. 90, No. 5, 401--411 (2008; Zbl 1195.11047)]. The present author has extended these constructions later on to octonion algebras.