Fed-linked fields and formally real fields satisfying \(B_ 3\) (Q2277020)

A field F is called linked iff the classes of quaternion algebras over F form a subgroup of the Brauer group of F. The author studies field invariants of formally real linked fields. Throughout the paper the author uses the condition \(B_ 3\) which means that \(D\langle\langle w_ 1,w_ 2\rangle\rangle =\Sigma(F)\) for all \(w_ 1,w_ 2\in \Sigma (F)\), where \(\Sigma(F)\) denotes the set of totally positive elements of F. In {\S} 2 he studies properties of the function \(\beta_ F\) for any formally real field F satisfying \(B_ 3\) and puts it into relation with the invariants \(I(F)\), \(\tilde ud(F)\), \(ud(F)\) and \(C(F)\). Here \(i+\beta_ F(i)\) is the supremum of all possible dimensions of anisotropic quadratic forms \(q\cong q_+\perp -q_-\) with \(q_+\) and \(q_-\) totally positive, \(\dim q_+=i\). These results are being used in the calculation of possible functions \(\beta_ F\) for formally real fields satisfying \(B_ 3\) and certain conditions on I, \(\tilde ud\) or \(ud\). Using only the theory of quadratic forms and not the Witt ring W(F) the author proves in {\S} 4 that for any linked field F, char \(F\neq 2\), the Hasse invariant has the boundary \(\tilde u(F)\leq 8.\) In {\S} 5 he translates the theory of linked fields into the context of formally real fields which leads to the definition of Fed-linked fields. Here F is called Fed-linked iff F is formally real and satisfies the condition \[ q: F^ 5\to F,\quad q\in Fed(F),\quad \det q=d\dot F^ 2 \Rightarrow q\cong <d>\perp q_ 1\text{ for some } q_ 1\in Fed(F) \] or one of several other equivalent conditions. Finally he determines possible functions \(\beta_ F\) for Fed-linked fields F, but cannot prove their existence.