Zero cycles of degree one on principal homogeneous spaces (Q653383)

Let \(k\) be a field and consider an absolutely simple algebraic \(k\)-group \(G\). In [Sémin. Bourbaki Volume 1993/94, Astérisque 227, 229--257 (Exp.~No. 783) (1995; Zbl 0837.12003)], \textit{J.-P. Serre} defined a set \(S(G)\) of primes \(p\) that satisfy at least one of the following conditions: \(p\) divides the order of the automorphism group of the Dynkin diagram of \(G\), or the order of the center of the universal cover of \(G\), or \(p\) is a torsion prime of the root system of \(G\). Serre then asked the following question. Suppose \(\{ L_i\mid 1\leq i\leq m\}\) is a set of finite field extensions of \(k\) such that for all \(p\in S(G)\) one has that \(p\) does not divide \(d=\gcd_{1\leq i\leq m}([L_i:k])\). Is it true that the canonical map \[ H^1(k,G)\to\prod_{1\leq i\leq m}H^1(L_i,G) \] has trivial kernel\,? The main result of the paper states that the answer to this question is positive in the case where \(k\) has characteristic not \(2\) and \(G\) is not of type \(E_8\) and \(G\) is a simply connected or adjoint classical group, or a quasisplit exceptional group. Applying this in the case \(d=1\), one gets under the same hypotheses on \(k\) and \(G\) that if \(X\) is a principal homogeneous space under \(G\) over \(k\) admitting a zero cycle of degree \(1\), then \(X\) has a rational point. The author points out that generally this does not hold anymore when \(X\) is a quasi-projective or projective homogeneous variety. The proof makes use of Weil's classification of classical semisimple algebraic groups as groups associated to algebras with involution. Important ingredients are results by \textit{E. Bayer-Fluckiger} and \textit{H. W. Lenstra jun.} [Am.\ J.\ Math.\ 112, No. 3, 359--373 (1990; Zbl 0729.12006)], including a version of Scharlau's transfer for hermitian forms, and norm principles due to \textit{P. Gille} [C.\ R.\ Acad.\ Sci., Paris, Sér.\ I 316, No. 4, 315--320 (1993; Zbl 0826.12003)] and \textit{A. S. Merkurjev} [St. Petersbg. Math. J. 7, No. 2, 243--264 (1996); translation from Algebra Anal. 7, No. 2, 77--105 (1995; Zbl 0859.20039)].