On the linkage of quaternion algebras. (Q1420719)

Let \(B\) and \(C\) be quaternion algebras over a field \(F\). A well known theorem [\textit{A. A. Albert}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 35, 65-66 (1972; Zbl 0263.16012), \textit{C.-H. Sah}, J. Algebra 20, 144-160 (1972; Zbl 0226.15010)] states that \(B\otimes_FC\) is a division algebra if and only if \(B\) and \(C\) have no common quadratic splitting field \(P\). When \(\text{char\,}F=2\), Draxl showed this to be equivalent to the condition that no separable quadratic field extension of \(F\) can be embedded in both \(B\) and \(C\) [\textit{P. Draxl}, Nachr. Akad. Wiss. Göttingen, II. Math.-phys. Kl. 1975, 251-259 (1975; Zbl 0316.16018)]. The author provides a simple proof. Denote the quaternion algebra generated by \(i,j\) with \(i^2+i+a=0\), \(j^2=b\), \(ij=j(i+1)\) by \([a,b)_F\) and call \(B\), \(C\) left-linked if \(B\cong[a,x)_F\), \(C\cong[a,y)_F\) and right-linked if \(B\cong[x,b)_F\), \(C\cong[y,b)_F\). Thus left-linked algebras have a common separable quadratic subfield and right-linked algebras have a common inseparable quadratic subfield. The author shows that if \(B,C\) are right-linked, then they are left-linked and gives an example where the converse does not hold. Now the required result follows because a separable field extension \(F[t]/(t^2+t+a)\) embeds in \(B\) if and only if \(B\cong[a,*)_F\), while an inseparable extension \(F[t]/(t^2-b)\) embeds in \(B\) if and only if \(B\cong[*,b)_F\).