Composition algebras over \(k[t,\sqrt{at^2+b}]\) (Q1279714)

Composition algebras over fields form a well understood class of algebras. In recent years, composition algebras over (unital, associative) commutative rings have been studied [see \textit{H. P. Petersson}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 337, 473-491 (1993; 778.17001)]. The situation in this more general setting is much more involved and the attention has been turned to particular rings, mainly related to algebraic curves of genus zero. Given a field \(k\) of characteristic not two and a nonrational curve \(X'\) of genus zero, a quaternion division algebra \((a,b)_k\) is associated to \(X'\). The principal ideal ring \(R=k[t,\sqrt{at^2+b}]\) satisfies \(\text{Spec } R =X' \setminus \{P_0\}\), for a suitable closed point \(P_0\) of degree two. The paper under review is devoted to study the composition algebras over this ring \(R\). The easiest examples of composition algebras \(C\) over \(R\) are those already defined over \(k\) (that is, \(C\cong C_0\otimes_k R\) for a composition algebra over \(k\)). The remaining cases are precisely described in the paper by means of a generalized Cayley-Dickson doubling process considered by H. P.~Petersson in the reference above. Some classification results are proved, too.