Principal ideals in mod-\(\ell \) Milnor \(K\)-theory (Q684116)

Let \(\ell\) be a prime number and let \(k\) be a field containing \(1/\ell\). Let \(a_1,\ldots,a_n\in k^\times\) and let \(\underline{a}\) denote the symbol \(\{ a_1,\ldots,a_n\}\) in the Milnor \(K\)-group \(K_n^M(k)\). The chief result of the paper is following theorem (see Theorem 1.1): Suppose that \(k\) has characteristic \(0\). Let \(X\) be the norm variety associated to \(\underline{a}\in K_n^M(k)/\ell\). Then (a) The principal ideal of the graded ring \(K_*^M(k)/\ell\) generated by \(\underline{a}\) is precisely the kernel of the homomorphism \(K_*^M(k)/\ell\to K_*^M(k(X))/\ell\), and (b) The annihilator ideal \(\{ b\in K_*^M(k)/\ell\;| b\cup \underline{a} = 0\}\) is generated by the set of norms \(\{ N(\alpha)\in K_*(k)/\ell\;|\;\alpha\in K_*^M(k(x)), \;x\text{ a closed point in } X\}\). The case \(\ell=2\) of this theorem was proved by \textit{D. Orlov} et al. [Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 1, 1--13 (2007; Zbl 1124.14017)]. As the authors point out, many of the results in this paper can also be found in papers of \textit{N. Yagita} [Hokkaido Math. J. 41, No. 2, 275--316 (2012; Zbl 1321.14005)] and \textit{A. Merkurjev} and \textit{A. Suslin} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 214, No. 11, 2017--2026 (2010; Zbl 1200.14041)]. However, the theory of norm varieties was in an incomplete state at the time of Yagita's paper, while Merkurjev and Suslin treated only the case \(\mu_\ell\subset k\). The paper under review is very clearly written with all reasonable details being supplied. The authors carefully explain precisely where the characteristic \(0\) hypothesis is required (existence of norm varieties and non-vanishing of their symmetric characteristic class).