Generic algebras with involution of degree \(8m\). (Q1858290)

Let \(F\) be an infinite field of characteristic not equal to \(2\), \(G\) an algebraic group over \(F\), \(V\) an algebraic \(F\)-representation (i.e. an algebraic group morphism \(G\to\text{GL}_F(V)\)), \(F(V)\) the field of rational functions, and \(F(V)^G\) the invariant field of \(F(V)\) with respect to the natural action of \(G\) on \(F(V)\). Also, let \(K\) and \(K'\) be extensions of \(F\). We say that \(K\) and \(K'\) are stably isomorphic over \(F\), if the rational function fields \(K(X_1,\dots,X_a)\) and \(K'(Y_1,\dots,Y_b)\) are isomorphic over \(F\), for some \(a,b\in\mathbb{N}\). The extension \(K/F\) is called retract rational, if \(K\) is the field of fractions of an \(F\)-algebra domain \(S\), and there is a localized polynomial ring \(F[X](1/s)=F[x_1,\dots,x_n](1/s)\) with \(F\)-algebra maps \(f\colon S\to F[X](1/s)\) and \(g\colon F[X](1/s)\to S\), such that the composition \(g\circ f\) is the identity of \(S\). It has been proved by \textit{D. J. Saltman} [see Isr. J. Math. 47, 165-215 (1984; Zbl 0546.14013)] that if \(K\) and \(K'\) are stably isomorphic and \(K/F\) is retract rational, then \(K'\) is retract rational. In particular, stably isomorphic to a rational extension implies retract rational (but not conversely). The paper under review considers the problem of whether every extension of \(F\) stably isomorphic to \(F(V)^G\) is retract rational. The significance of the problem is due to the fact that if \(G=\text{PGL}_n\), \(\text{PO}_n\) or \(\text{PSp}_n\) (the projective, respectively, linear, orthogonal and symplectic, group of order \(n\), with \(n\) even in the symplectic case), and \(V\) is a direct sum of \(r\) isomorphic copies of the full matrix \(F\)-vector space \(M_n(F)\), on which the action of \(G\) is induced by diagonal conjugation, then \(F(V)^G\) is the centre of the generic division algebra \(UD(F,n,r)\), \(U_t(F,n,r)\) (with orthogonal involution), and \(UD_s(F,n,r)\) (with symplectic involution), respectively. The paper shows that the answer is affirmative, if \(G=\text{PO}_{8m}\) or \(\text{PSp}_{8m}\), in case \(m\) is an odd positive integer. This is achieved by proving the equivalent lifting property for the class of central simple \(F\)-algebras of dimension \(64m^2\) with involution.