Rationally isotropic quadratic spaces are locally isotropic. II. (Q612990)

In the sequel \(R\) denotes a semi-local regular integral domain containing a field of characteristic \(\neq 2\), such that all residue fields of \(R\) are infinite. Moreover \(K\) denotes the fraction field of \(R\). The main result of the paper under review is the following theorem: For any quadratic space \((V,\phi)\) over \(R\) isotropy of \((V,\phi)\otimes_R K\) implies isotropy of \((V,\phi)\). This result was established in the special case when \(R\) is local and \(2\)-dimensional by \textit{M.\ Ojanguren} [Lect. Notes Math. 967, 291--299 (1982; Zbl 0498.10015)]. As a corollary the following result is obtained: Let \((V,\phi)\) be a quadratic space over \(R\) and \(u\in R^\times\) a unit. If the equation \(\phi(x)=u\) has a solution in \(K\), then it has one in \(R\). Moreover the following ''purity theorem'' is deduced from the main result, under the additional assumption that \(R\) is local: Let \((W,\psi)\) be a quadratic space over \(K\). Suppose that for any height one prime ideal \(\mathfrak{p}\) of \(R\) the space \((W,\psi)\) is defined over the localization \(R_{\mathfrak{p}}\). Then \((W,\psi)\) is defined over \(R\), i.e. is isomorphic to \((V,\phi)\otimes_R K\) for some quadratic space \((V,\phi)\) over \(R\). The proof uses a purity theorem for Witt groups by \textit{M.\ Ojanguren} and the first author [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 32, No. 1, 71--86 (1999; Zbl 0980.11025)]. Here the assumption that \(R\) is local goes in. For Part I, see [the first author, Invent. Math. 176, No. 2, 397--403 (2009; Zbl 1173.11025)].