Pfister forms in the algebraic and geometric theory of quadratic forms (Q6139349)

This survey paper celebrates the (nearly) 60th anniversary of \textit{A. Pfister}'s paper [Arch. Math. 16, 363--370 (1965; Zbl 0146.26001)], where he defined and studied the quadratic forms called Pfister forms today. The paper highlights the influence of Pfister's results in the development of the algebraic and geometric theory of quadratic forms over the past decades. The exposition starts from early results such as the Subform Theorem and the Arason-Pfister Hauptsatz, continues with the relation between quadratic forms and Milnor's \(K\)-theory, and finishes with discussing the Rost motive and its uses in the context of Pfister forms.