Degree four cohomological invariants for quadratic forms (Q1825892)

Let F be a field of characteristic \(\neq 2\), WF the Witt ring of classes of nondegenerate quadratic forms, and IF\(\subset WF\) the ideal of even dimensional forms. This paper proves the existence of a map \[ e^ 4_ F: I^ 4F\to H^ 4(G,{\mathbb{Z}}/2{\mathbb{Z}}), \] G the Galois group of a separable closure of F, which extends the natural map defined on the generators of \(I^ 4F\). The analogue for \(I^ 3F\) and \(H^ 3(G,{\mathbb{Z}}/2{\mathbb{Z}})\) was proved by \textit{J. K. Arason} [J. Algebra 36, 448-491 (1975; Zbl 0314.12104)]. The key result needed for the proof is \textit{R. G. Swan}'s computation of the K-theory of quadric hypersurfaces [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 122, 113-153 (1985; Zbl 0601.14009)]. The techniques are closely related to those used by Merkurjev-Suslin, and Rust, in proving that \(e^ 3_ F\) is always an isomorphism. The paper is a real tour-de-force since the result is much deeper than a causal look might indicate.