Linkage of Pfister forms over \(\mathbb{C}(x_1,\dots,x_n)\) (Q2281279)

For a field \(F\) and an integer \(n\ge 2\), let \(I^nF\) be the subgroup generated by (Witt classes of) bilinear \(n\)-fold Pfister forms in the Witt group of symmetric bilinear forms over \(F\). For any \(m\ge 2\), \(I^nF\) is said to be \(m\)-linked if any \(m\) bilinear \(n\)-fold Pfister forms over \(F\) share a common \((n-1)\)-fold factor. If \(\mathrm{char}(F)\neq 2\), \(I^2F\) being \(m\)-linked is equivalent to the condition that any \(m\) quaternion algebras over \(F\) share a common maximal subfield. It is known that number fields have this property of all \(m\ge 2\) and that the rational function field \(\mathbb{C}(x_1,\,x_2)\) has the property for \(m=2\). For a general field \(F\), \textit{K. J. Becher} [Ann. \(K\)-Theory 3, No. 3, 369--378 (2018; Zbl 1422.11073)] asked whether \(I^nF\) is \(m\)-linked for all \(m\ge 3\) when \(I^nF\) is \(3\)-linked. A negative answer to this question was found in characteristic 2 in \textit{A. Chapman} [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 98, No. 1, 38--47 (2018; Zbl 1435.11073)]. In the paper under review, the authors give a negative answer to Becher's question in characteristic 0. More precisely, they prove that for the rational function field \(F=\mathbb{C}(x_1,\cdots, x_n)\), where \(n\ge 2\), \(I^nF\) is 3-linked but not \(2^n\)-linked. The proof utilizes dyadic valuations on \(\mathbb{C}\) and relies on recent results on symmetric bilinear forms in characteristic 2 obtained in [the first author, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 98, No. 1, 38--47 (2018; Zbl 1435.11073)].