On representations of spinor genera. II (Q1777248)

Let \(\mathfrak o\) be the ring of integers of an algebraic number field and let \(L\) and \(K\) be quadratic lattices over \(\mathfrak o\) of ranks \(m\) and \(n\), respectively, with \(m \geq 3\). Assume that \(K\) is represented by the genus of \(L\) (i.e., that \(K\) is represented by \(L\) over all local completions of \(\mathfrak o\)). When \(m-n\geq 3\), it is well-known that \(K\) is then represented by the spinor genus \(\mathrm{spn}(L)\) of \(L\). In the present paper, the author obtains criteria to determine whether \(K\) is represented by \(\mathrm{spn}(L)\) when \(m-n \leq 2\). In particular, when \(L\) is indefinite this gives criteria for the representation of \(K\) by \(L\). The work in this paper extends previous work of \textit{W. K. Chan} and the author (Part I) [Compos. Math. 140, No. 2, 287--300 (2004; Zbl 1041.11020)] who treated the case \(m\leq 4\), and \textit{J. S. Hsia}, \textit{Y. Y. Shao} with the author [J. Reine Angew. Math. 494, 129--140 (1998; Zbl 0883.11016)].