Total positivity and algebraic Witt classes (Q1073826)

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Total positivity and algebraic Witt classes
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    Total positivity and algebraic Witt classes (English)
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    1985
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    Let E be a finite extension of the algebraic number field F. \(<E>\) denotes the class in the Witt ring W(F) of F given by the trace form \(tr_{E/F}(x^ 2)\). The Witt classes in W(F) arising in this way from algebraic extensions E/F are called algebraic classes. The main result of the paper under review is the following theorem: The element a in \(F^{\#}\) is totally positive in F (i.e. a is positive in every possible ordering of F) if and only if the Witt class of the quadratic form \(a\cdot X^ 2\) in W(F) is algebraic. The proof of the above mentioned theorem uses results of Conner and Perlis concerning trace forms of algebraic number fields and a characterization of totally positive elements in \(F^{\#}\) proved in the first section of the article.
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    Brauer groups
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    Milnor K-group
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    rank one quadratic form
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    norm
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    theorem
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    finite extension
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    Witt ring
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    trace forms
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    totally positive elements
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