Classification theorems for Hermitian forms, the Rost kernel and Hasse principle over fields with \(\mathrm{cd}_2(k)\leq 3\) (Q2438464)

Let \((A,\sigma)\) be a central simple \(K\)-algebra with involution where \(K\) is a field of characteristic not \(2\). The present paper gives criteria for when a hermitian form \(h\) over \((A,\sigma)\) is trivial in the Witt group \(W(A,\sigma)\) in the case where the cohomological \(2\)-dimension \(\mathrm{cd}_2(K)\) is at most \(3\). The criteria involve the following invariants of \(h\): the rank of the hermitian form; its discriminant \(\mathrm{disc}(h)\) in the case where \(\sigma\) is orthogonal and where \(\mathrm{disc}(h)\in K^*/K^{*2}\), and in the case where \(\sigma\) is unitary and where \(\mathrm{disc}(h)\in k^*/N_{K|k}(K^*)\) for \(k\) being the fixed field of \(K\) under \(\sigma\); the Clifford invariant \(c(h)\in {}_2\mathrm{Br}(K)/(A)\) in the case of orthogonal \(\sigma\); and the Rost invariant \(R(h)\) which takes values in \(H^3(K,\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}(2))/\mathrm{Cor}_{K|k}(K^*\cup (A))\) for unitary \(\sigma\), in \(H^3(K,\mu_2^{\otimes 2})/((A)\cup H^1(K,\mu_2))\) for orthogonal \(\sigma\), and in \(H^3(K,\mu_2)\) for symplectic \(\sigma\). Essentially, it is the use and investigation of the Rost invariant that allows to extend the previously known results for \(\mathrm{cd}_2(K)\leq 2\) to fields \(K\) with \(\mathrm{cd}_2(K)\leq 3\). The following is shown. Let \(h\) be a hermitian form over \((A,\sigma)\) of even rank and assume that -- \(\sigma\) is unitary, \(\mathrm{ind}(A)\) is square-free and not divisible by \(p\) if \(\mathrm{char}(K)=p>0\), and \(\mathrm{disc}(h)\) and \(R(h)\) are trivial, or -- \(\sigma\) is orthogonal, \(\mathrm{ind}(A)\leq 2\), and \(\mathrm{disc}(h)\), \(c(h)\) and \(R(h)\) are all trivial, or -- \(\sigma\) is symplectic, \(\mathrm{ind}(A)\leq 2\) and \(R(h)\) is trivial, then \(h=0\in W(A,\sigma)\). Due to results by \textit{D. J. Saltman} [J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 12, No. 1, 25--47 (1997; Zbl 0902.16021)] and by \textit{R. Parimala} and \textit{V. Suresh} [Invent.\ Math.\ 197, No.\ 1, 215--235 (2014)], the above results then hold in particular for function fields of transcendence degree \(1\) over \(p\)-adic fields even without the restriction on the index of \(A\) in the orthogonal and symplectic case. Furthermore, the following is shown for fields \(K\) with \(\mathrm{cd}_2(K)\leq 3\). Let \(G\) be a semisimple simply connected linear algebraic group over \(K\) and consider the Rost invariant \(R_G:H^1(K,G)\to H^3(K,\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}(2))\). It is shown that if \(G\) has absolutely simple factors of certain types (possibly with the additional restriction that the \(u\)-invariant of \(K\) be at most \(10\)), then \(R_G\) has trivial kernel. Another application is the proof of a certain Hasse principle. Let again \(K\) be a function field of transcendence degree \(1\) over a \(p\)-adic field and \(G\) be a semisimple simply connected linear algebraic group over \(K\). Let \(\Omega\) be the set of discrete valuations on \(K\) and \(K_v\) be the completion of \(K\) at \(v\in \Omega\). \textit{J.-L. Colliot-Thélène} et al. [Comment. Math. Helv. 87, No. 4, 1011--1033 (2012; Zbl 1332.11065)] conjectured that the natural map \(H^1(K,G)\to\prod_{v\in\Omega}(K_v,G)\) has trivial kernel and they have shown this to be true for quasi-split \(G\) without factors of type \(E_8\). In the present paper this conjecture is verified for most classical groups.