Discriminant algebras of finite rank algebras and quadratic trace modules (Q2384746)

Let \(k\) be a commutative ring and \(E\) an étale algebra over \(k\) which is projective of rank \(r\) as a \(k\)-module. A discriminant algebra for \(E\) (that is, a quadratic algebra which is an invariant for \(E\)) has been defined for instance in [\textit{P. Revoy}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I Math. 298, 123--126 (1984; Zbl 0587.13003), \textit{W. C. Waterhouse}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 379, 209--220 (1987; Zbl 0609.13006)], or for \(r=3\) in a preprint by Rost from 2002. In the paper under review, the author presents a new construction of the discriminant algebra of \(E\) which is based on an idea by Rost and the theory he developed in [Beitr. Algebra Geom. 38, 33--72 (1997; Zbl 0874.15024)]. His approach works in a more general setup and a discriminant algebra \(\text{Dis}(\mathcal{X})\) is defined and extensively studied for a quadratic trace module of rank \(r\geq 1\). A quadratic trace module of rank \(r\geq 1\) is a quadrupel \(\mathcal{X}=(X,Q,T,1)\) with \(X\) a projective \(k\)-module of rank~\(r\), \(T\) a linear form on \(X\), \(Q\) a quadratic form on \(X\), and \(1\in X\) a unimodular vector such that \(T(1)=r\), \(Q(1)= \frac{r!}{2!(r-2)!}\) and \(B(1,x)=(r-1)T(x)\) for all \(x\in X\), \(B\) being the polar form of \(Q\). Quadratic trace modules form a symmetric tensor category with the direct sum as product operation. Quadratic algebras admit a natural product \(\square\) with which they are a symmetric tensor category. It is shown that the discriminant algebra functor is multiplicative, i.e. that \(\text{Dis}(\mathcal{X}_1\oplus \mathcal{X}_2)\cong \text{Dis}(\mathcal{X}_1)\square \text{Dis}(\mathcal{X}_2).\) The discriminant algebra functor turns out to be a tensor functor, but it does not commute with the symmetries of the respective categories, so is not symmetric. This leads to the introduction of the category of quadratic algebras with parity, which has as objects pairs \((D,p)\), where \(D\) is a quadratic \(k\)-algebra and \(p\) an idempotent. This is again a symmetric tensor category and the extended functor \(\widetilde{\text{Dis}} (\mathcal{X})= (\text{Dis}(\mathcal{X}), \text{rank} (\mathcal{X}) \text{mod}\, 2)\) is shown to be a symmetric tensor functor from the category of quadratic trace modules to the category of quadratic algebras with parity. Automorphism groups of certain quadratic trace modules (called separable) are investigated in the last sections of the paper, with a special emphasis on the question when they are reductive. It turns out that these are smooth group schemes admitting a Dickson type homomorphism into the constant group scheme \(\mathbb{Z}_2\) As an application of these results, the author obtains a concrete way to realize the approach given in W. C. Waterhouse [loc. cit.].