Direct limits of finite spaces of orderings (Q5896270)

Spaces of orderings were introduced by the second author [Can. J. Math. 31, 320-330 (1979; Zbl 0412.10012)]. These form a category. It is shown that this category has direct limits of finite spaces; such a direct limit will be denoted by D. For X a space of orderings, let W(X) denote its Witt ring. Then if \(D=\lim_{\to} X_ i\) where \(X_ i\) are finite, then \(W(D)\subset \lim_{\leftarrow} W(X_ i),\) and consists of all \((f_ i)\), \(f_ i\in W(X_ i)\), where the dimensions of the anisotropic part of \(f_ i\) are bounded. The group G(D) associated with D, is shown to be profinite, i.e., compact totally disconnected, and W(D) a compact totally disconnected ring, whose continuous signatures (ring- homomorphisms W(X)\(\to {\mathbb{Z}})\) are characterized. Moreover, although D may be the direct limit of several directed systems of finite spaces of orderings, it is shown that there is a standard such system. This leads to an internal characterization of D. Next it is shown that the family of D's is closed under group extension by profinite groups, residue spaces, and direct sums. The stability index of D is determined, assuming some finiteness conditions. An extension of the second author's proof of the representation theorem of \textit{E. Becker} and \textit{L. Bröcker} [J. Algebra 52, 328-346 (1978; Zbl 0396.10012)] given in [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 258, 505-521 (1980; Zbl 0427.10015)] to spaces D with finite stability index is given. The last part studies the connections between spaces D and the spaces of orderings \(X_ K\), of Pythagorean fields K. It is shown, i.a., that for a given D, there is a K with \(D\cong a\) subspace of \(X_ K\) and that any space of orderings is isomorphic to a quotient space of \(X_ K\), for suitable K.