Applications of conics to quadratic forms over the rational function fields (Q2906837)

Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic not \(2\). This paper concerns the isotropy of nondegenerate finite-dimensional quadratic forms over field extensions \(K/k\), and whether or not the anisotropic part of a form \(\varphi\) over \(k\) when extended to \(K\) is defined over \(k\), i.e. if there exists a form \(\psi\) over \(k\) with \((\varphi_K)_{an}\cong \psi_K\). It is easy to see that if \(\varphi_i\), \(i=1,2\), are forms over \(k\) and if \(p(t)\in k[t]\) is an odd-degree polynomial over \(k\), then there exist anisotropic forms \(\tau_i\), \(i=1,2\), over \(k\) such that over \(k(t)\) one has \((\varphi_1\perp p(t)\varphi_2)_{an}\cong \tau_1\perp p(t)\tau_2\). In the present paper, it is shown that this also holds for \(p(t)=t^{2m}-a\) with \(a\in k\) and \(m\) an odd positive integer, and counterexamples are given for any even \(m\geq 2\). It is also shown that if \(\pi\) is an \(n\)-fold Pfister form over \(k(t)\) and if \(a\in k^*\setminus k^{*2}\) such that for all irreducible polynomials \(p(t)\in k[t]\), \(p(t)\neq t^2-a\), the second residue forms \(\partial_p(\pi)\) are all zero but \(\partial_{t^2-a}(\pi)\neq 0\), then there actually exist \(c_1,\ldots,c_n\in k^*\) such that \(\pi\cong\langle\!\langle c_1,\ldots,c_{n-1},c_n(t^2-a)\rangle\!\rangle\). The author furthermore relates the isotropy behaviour of forms \(\varphi\) over \(k\) under biquadratic extensions with that of certain multiples of \(\varphi\) over rational extensions or function field extensions of products of conics. For example, let \(a,b\in k^*\), \(x,y\) be variables over \(k\) and \(C_a\) resp. \(C_b\) be the conics associated with the quaternion algebras \((a,x)\) resp. \((b,y)\) over \(k(x,y)\), and consider the function field \(K=k(x,y)(C_a\times C_b)\). It is known that generally, \((\varphi_{k(\sqrt{a},\sqrt{b})})_{an}\) need not be defined over \(k\). Further it is shown that it is defined over \(k\) if and only if \((\varphi\langle\!\langle x,y\rangle\!\rangle_K)_{an}\) is defined over \(k(x,y)\).NEWLINENEWLINEAlong the way, a new short proof is given of the following result originally due to \textit{Rowen, Tignol} and the present author [in: Algebra and number theory. Proceedings of the silver jubilee conference, Hyderabad, India, December 11--16, 2003. New Delhi: Hindustan Book Agency. 158--180 (2005; Zbl 1089.16015)]. Let \(D\) be a central simple algebra over \(k\), \(a,b\in k^*\) with \(a,ab\not\in k^{*2}\). Then \(\mathrm{ind} (D\otimes_k (a,t^2-b)_{k(t)})= \gcd\{ \mathrm{ind}(D\otimes k(\sqrt{a})), \mathrm{ind}(D\otimes k(\sqrt{ab}))\}\).