Level and Pythagoras number of some geometric rings (Q1813550)

Let \(A\) be a commutative unitary ring. An element \(a\) in \(A\) is called totally positive if \(a\) is positive on the real spectrum \(\text{Spec}_ rA\) of \(A\). It is known that if \(A\) is a field then every totally positive element is a sum of squares. Although there exist examples which show that it is not so in general, certain types of rings which are frequently used in real algebraic geometry, behave like fields. The author proves that if \(A\) is a semi-local \(R\)-algebra or a ring of regular functions over \(R\) of transcendence degree \(\leq d\), \(R\) being a real closed field, then any totally positive unit in \(A\) is a sum of \(2^ d\) squares in \(A\). This generalizes \textit{A. Pfister}'s theorem on function fields over real closed fields [Invent. Math. 4, 229-237 (1967; Zbl 0222.10022)]. The author also finds an upper bound for the level of any \(R\)-algebra without any real point. This improves the result of the author [Invent. Math. 85, 53-72 (1986; Zbl 0601.14019)].