Period-index bounds for arithmetic threefolds (Q2417967)

The main result of this article is Theorem 1.1, which gives the first uniform period-index bound for fields of transcendence degree 2 over local fields. The period-index problem is classical in the theory of Brauer groups. For a survey of this problem, see section 4 of [\textit{A. Auel} et al., Transform. Groups 16, No. 1, 219--264 (2011; Zbl 1230.16016)]. Given a Brauer class \(\alpha\) over a field, Wedderburn's theorem implies that \(\alpha = [D]\) for a unique division algebra \(D\). The period of \(\alpha\), \(\mathrm{per}(\alpha)\), is its order in the Brauer group and its index, \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha)\), is the degree of \(D\). It is well-known that \(\mathrm{per}(\alpha)\) divides \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha)\) and that they have the same prime factors. The period-index problem is concerned with the smallest \(n\) so that \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha)\) divides \(\mathrm{per}(\alpha)^n\). Such a period-index bound was established in the following cases: \begin{itemize} \item If \(k\) is a local or a global field, then \(n=1\) [\textit{R. Brauer} et al., J. Reine Angew. Math. 167, 399--404 (1932; Zbl 0003.24404)]. \item If \(k\) is a finitely generated field of transcendence degree \(2\) over an algebraically closed field, then \(n=1\) [\textit{A. J. de Jong}, Duke Math. J. 123, No. 1, 71--94 (2004; Zbl 1060.14025)]. \item If \(k\) is a field of transcendence degree \(1\) over a local field, then \(n=2\) [\textit{D. J. Saltman}, J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 12, No. 1, 25--47 (1997; Zbl 0902.16021)] and [\textit{R. Parimala} and \textit{V. Suresh}, Invent. Math. 197, No. 1, 215--235 (2014; Zbl 1356.11018)]. For analogous results over fields of transcendence degree \(1\) over higher local fields, see [\textit{M. Lieblich}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 659, 1--41 (2011; Zbl 1230.14021)] and [\textit{D. Harbater} et al., Invent. Math. 178, No. 2, 231--263 (2009; Zbl 1259.12003)]. \item If \(k\) is a field of transcendence degree \(2\) over a finite field, then \(n=2\) [\textit{D. Harbater} et al., Invent. Math. 178, No. 2, 231--263 (2009; Zbl 1259.12003)] and [\textit{M. Lieblich}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 659, 1--41 (2011; Zbl 1230.14021)]. \end{itemize} These results support the following period-index conjecture (Conjecture 1.3 in the paper under review): Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed, \(C_1\), or \(p\)-adic field. Set \(e=0,1,2\) respectively. Let \(K\) be a field of transcendence degree \(n\) over \(k\). Then \[\mathrm{ind}(\alpha) | \mathrm{per}(\alpha)^{n-1+e}.\] In the case of the function field of a \(p\)-adic surface \(S\), this conjecture predicts, that \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha) | \mathrm{per}(\alpha)^3\). In the present paper, the authors show that \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha) | \mathrm{per}(\alpha)^4\) for \(\alpha\) of period prime to \(6p\). The proof uses Gabber's theory of prime-to-\(l\) alterations and the deformation theory of twisted sheaves.