Polarization formulas over separable algebras (Q1891739)

Let \(J\) be an involution on a ring \(A\). Motivated by the question of representing hermitian forms, the author defines a polarization on \(A\) to be an identity \(x=\sum_ik_i[l_ixm_i+(l_ixm_i)^J]n_i\), where \(k_i\), \(l_i\), \(m_i\), \(n_i\) are constants in \(A\). The existence of a polarization in the case when \(A\) is a finitely generated projective module and a separable algebra over a central subring is discussed. In particular, polarizations always exist when \(A\) is a central simple algebra over a field \(K\) and \(J\) is an involution of the first kind, unless \(\dim A=1\) and \(\text{char}(K)=2\). Strict polarizations are also studied.