Mixed multiquadratic splitting fields (Q6965599)

Let \(F\) denotes a field of characteristic 2. A field extension \(K/F\) is called excellent, if for any quadratic form \(\varphi\) over \(F\), the anisotropic part \((\varphi_K)_{an}\) of the quadratic form \(\varphi_K\) obtained by extending scalars to \(K\) is defined over \(F\), i.e., there exists a quadratic form \(\psi\) over \(F\) such that \((\varphi_K)_{an}\simeq \psi_K\). It is well-known, that, in any characteristic, any quadratic extension is excellent. The situation changes for quartic extensions. The main result of the paper under review provide examples of nonexcellent mixed biquadratic extensions. To be more precise, let \(A\) be a central simple algebra of degree 8 and exponent 2. If \(A\) contains a mixed biquadratic or simple purely inseparable quartic field extension of \(F\) which is excellent, then \(A\) decomposes into a tensor product of 3 quaternion algebras over \(F\). From this result we get examples of nonexcellent quartic field extensions.