Sous-espaces déterminant l'invariant de Arf et un théorème de Rohlin sur la signature (Q4950765)

Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(2\) that is not quadratically separably closed, and let \(q:V\to k\) be a nondegenerate quadratic form defined on the \(k\)-vector space \(V\) and with associated bilinear form \(b\). If \(U\) is a subspace of \(V\), then a form \(q':V\to k\) is said to be a quadratic \(q_U\)-refinement if it has the same associated bilinear form \(b\) and coincides with \(q\) on \(U\). The subspace \(U\) is said to Witt-characterize (resp. Arf-characterize) \(q\) if all quadratic \(q_U\)-refinements are Witt-equivalent (resp. have the same Arf invariant). It is shown that the Arf-characterizing subspaces are exactly the orthogonal complements of isotropic subspaces. Now if \(q:G\to {\mathbb Q}/{\mathbb Z}\) is a nondegenerate quadratic form on an abelian group \(G\), one defines the analogous notions of \(q_H\)-refinements for a subgroup \(H\) and of Witt-characterizing subgroups \(H\). It is shown that the Witt-characterizing subgroups of such a form \(q\) are exactly the orthogonal complements of subgroups with isotropic \(2\)-torsion part. These propositions are then used to show how Rokhlin's signature formula [see \textit{V. A. Rokhlin}, Funct. Anal. Appl. 6, 136-138 (1972); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 6, No. 2, 62-64 (1972; Zbl 0259.14010); \textit{L. Guillou} and \textit{A. Marin}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 285, 95-98 (1977; Zbl 0361.57018)] can be applied in more general situations, a result independently obtained by Degtyarev, Itenberg and Kharlamov.