Discriminants of symplectic graded involutions on graded simple algebras. (Q405805)

Let \(A\) be a central simple algebra over a field \(E\) of characteristic different from \(2\). It is known that if \(A\) is endowed with a symplectic involution \(\sigma\), then the degree \(\deg(A)\) is even, say \(\deg(A)=2m\), for some \(m\in\mathbb N\). When \(m\) is even and \(\tau\) is another symplectic involution on \(A\), there is an invariant \(\Delta_\sigma(\tau)\) (called a discriminant) associated with \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\), defined as a certain element of the cohomology group \(H^3(E,\mu_2)\) [see \textit{G. Berhuy} et al., Pac. J. Math. 209, No. 2, 201-218 (2003; Zbl 1057.16012)]. As shown in the cited paper, \(\Delta_\sigma(\tau)\) depends only on the conjugacy classes of \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\), and is involved in relationships with trace forms. The paper under review defines and studies the discriminant of symplectic graded involutions on non-inertially split graded simple algebras with simple \(0\)-components over graded fields \(F\) of characteristic different from \(2\). The interest in this setting is motivated by the study of tame gauges on central simple algebras over valued fields, initiated by Tignol and Wadsworth (which extend tame valuations on central division algebras over Henselian valued fields). Specifically, by the established correspondences relating graded simple algebras to simple algebras with tame gauges, and their applicability as a tool for significantly simplifying proofs of results on central simple algebras [see \textit{J. P. Tignol} and \textit{A. R. Wadsworth}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 362, No. 2, 687-726 (2010; Zbl 1195.16043)]. The authors consider the graded simple \(F\)-algebra \(A=M_n(D)\) together with a graded involution \(\sigma\) of symplectic type, where \(D\) is a graded central division \(F\)-algebra of exponent \(\exp(D)=2\). Assuming that \(\Gamma_A\), \(\Gamma_F\) and \(A_0\), \(F_0\) are the grading types and the zero components of \(A\) and \(F\), respectively, and \(\Delta_A\) is the group of grades of invertible homogeneous elements of \(A\), they use the existence of a well-defined homomorphism \(\theta_A\) of the quotient group \(\Delta_A/\Gamma_F\) on the automorphism group \(\Aut(Z(A_0)/F_0)\), where \(Z(A_0)\) is the centre of \(A_0\). The main result of the reviewed paper states that if the kernel of \(\theta_D\) has order \(|\ker(\theta_D)|>4\), then there is only a finite set of values for \(\Delta_\sigma(\tau)\), where \(\tau\) runs across the set of graded involutions of symplectic type on \(A\). As a consequence, it is proved that \(\Delta_\sigma(\tau)=0\), provided that \(A_0\) is simple non-split, \(\exp(A)=2\), \(|\ker(\theta_A)|>4\), \(\deg(A)/\mathrm{ind}(A)\) is even, and \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) satisfy the above conditions. Finally, the paper shows that if \(E\) is a Henselian valued field with a residue field of characteristic different from \(2\), \(D\) is a central division \(E\)-algebra, \(\exp(D)=2\), \(|\ker(\theta_D)|>4\), and \(B=M_n(D)\) with \(n\) even, then \(\Delta_\sigma(\tau)=0\) whenever \(\sigma\) and \(\tau\) are symplectic involutions of \(B\) preserving a tame gauge defined on \(B\).