On orderings of level \(2^ n\) and on an extension of the 17th Hilbert problem (Q4037356)

[For the entire collection see Zbl 0756.00007.] A field \(K\) is called \(\alpha\)-chainable if \(\alpha\in K\) is such that \(\alpha^ 2\) is not a sum of fourth powers of elements of \(K\). Over such fields, the author studies \(\alpha\)-orderings of exact level \(2^ n\), i.e. subsets \(T\) of \(K\) satisfying \(T+T\subset T\), \(T\cdot T\subset T\), \(K^{2^ n}\subset T\), \(\alpha^{2^{n-1}}\not\in T\), and \([K^ \times: T^ \times]= 2^ n\). Also the notion of a chain-closed \(\alpha\)-chainable field is discussed. The following analogue of Hilbert's 17th problem is proved: Let \(K\) be a chain-closed \(\alpha\)- chainable field which admits a unique henselian valuation with real closed residue field. Then for every \(f\in K(X_ 1,\dots, X_ n)= K(\overline {X})\) and every \(n\geq 2\) the following properties are equivalent: (i) \(f\in \Sigma K(\overline {X})^{2^ n}- \alpha^{2^{n-1}} \Sigma K(\overline {X})^{2^ n}\), (ii) \(f(\overline {x})\in P_ n\) for all \(\overline {x}\in K^ n\) (where \(P_ n\) denotes the unique \(\alpha\)-ordering of exact level \(2^ n\) of \(K\)), (iii) \(f(\overline {x})\in \Sigma K^{2^ n}- \alpha^{2^{n- 1}}\Sigma K^{2^ n}\), (iv) \(f(\overline {x})\in \Sigma K^{2^ n} \cup- \alpha^{2^{n-1}} \Sigma K^{2^ n}\).