Kummer elements and the mod-3 invariant of Albert algebras (Q5952405)

The first Tits construction provides an Albert algebra (i.e., exceptional central simple Jordan algebra) \(J=J(A,\mu)\) out of three copies of a central simple associative algebra \(A\) and a nonzero scalar \(\mu\). Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(\neq 2,3\) containing the cube roots of unity. The main result in this paper asserts that if \(J\) is an Albert division algebra arising from the first Tits construction and if \(x\in J\) is an element whose generic minimal polynomial is \(X^3-\lambda\) for some \(0\neq\lambda\in k\) (such an element is called a Kummer element), then \(J\) is isomorphic to \(J(A,\lambda)\) for some central division \(k\)-algebra \(A\). This is strengthened to give that the scalars \(\mu\in k^\times\) such that \(J\simeq J(A,\mu)\) for some central division algebra \(A\) (which are the symbols occurring in the Serre-Rost invariant \(g_3(J)\)) are precisely the norms of the Kummer elements in \(J\). An interesting conclusion derived by the author is that if \(J_1=J(A,\mu)\) and \(J_2\) are first Tits construction Albert division algebras and \(g_3(J_1)=g_3(J_2)\), then \(J_2\simeq J(B,\mu)\) for some central division algebra \(B\).