Exponent and index of nonramified central simple algebras (with an appendix by Ofer Gabber). (Q1419571)

The main purpose of this paper is to give examples of finite-dimensional central division algebras with given exponent and index. For \(k\) an algebraically closed field, \(\ell\) a prime number different from the characteristic of \(k\), and \(n,m\) arbitrary integers with \(m>n\geq 1\), the author constructs a smooth projective \(k\)-variety \(Y\) of dimension \(\ell^{m-n}+1\) and a division algebra of exponent \(\ell^n\) and index \(\ell^m\) over the function field \(k(Y)\) which is unramified on \(Y\). This last property is in contrast with previous constructions of division algebras with prescribed exponent and index, which all require the existence of a discrete valuation for which the algebra ramifies. The method used here relies instead on the index computation of \textit{A. Schofield} and \textit{M. Van den Bergh} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 333, No. 2, 729-739 (1992; Zbl 0778.12004)]. It generalizes a construction of unramified biquaternion algebras over function fields of \(3\)-dimensional smooth complex projective varieties due to \textit{A. Kresch} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 35, No. 1, 109-116 (2003; Zbl 1028.16010)]. For \(\ell>3\), the argument relies on a recent result of \textit{A. J. de Jong} [Duke Math. J. 123, No. 1, 71-94 (2004)]. Related constructions of unramified cohomology classes on function fields of products of curves are discussed in the last section. -- The questions raised in that section are solved in an appendix by Ofer Gabber.