Quadratic forms with values in invertible modules (Q2366826)

The Clifford algebra of a quadratic space over a commutative ring \(R\) with values in an invertible \(R\)-module \(I\) is an algebra over the generalized Rees ring \(\check R(I)\) associated to \(I\). The Witt group \(W(I)\) of quadratic spaces with values in \(I\), which is a module over \(W(R)\), is related through the Clifford functor with the graded Witt ring \(W_ g(\check R(I))\) and the graded Brauer-Wall group \(\text{BW}_ g(\check R(I))\) of \(\check R(I)\). The authors discuss in detail these relations, assuming for most of the results that 2 is invertible. They show that \(W_ g(\check R(I))\simeq W(R)\oplus W(I)\). The computation of \(\text{BW}_ g(\check R(I))\) is reduced to the computation of the graded Brauer group \(B_ g(\check R(I)\) of \(\check R(I)\) and the computation of the graded group \(Q_ g(\check R(I))\) of quadratic extensions of \(\check R(I)\). For the discussion of the latter group the fact whether or not the invertible module \(I\) is a square in the Picard group of \(R\) plays an essential role. The graded Brauer group of \(\check R(I)\) is computed in an appendix, using cohomological techniques.