On isotropy fields of \(\operatorname{Spin}(18)\)-torsors (Q6986474)

Let \(G\) be a split semisimple algebraic group with a parabolic subgroup \(P\) defined over some field \(K\). A \(G\)-torsor \(E\) is said to be \(P\)-isotropic over a field extension \(L/K\) if the quotient variety \(E/P\) has a rational point over \(L\). The index of \(E/P\) is then defined to be the g.c.d. of all the degrees of finite extensions \(L/K\) such that \(E_L\) is \(P\)-isotropic. The so-called torsion index is the index one gets in the case where \(P\) is a Borel subgroup of \(G\). For the computation of the index, we consider a generic \(G\)-torsor \(E\) since for any \(G\)-torsor \(E'\), the index of \(E'/P\) will then divide that of \(E/P\).\N\NIn the case of the group \(G=\mathrm{Spin}(d)\) (\(d\geq 3\), \(d=2n+1\) or \(d=2n+2\)), the torsion index will be \(2^t\) for some \(t\) depending on \(n\) and it was computed by \textit{B. Totaro} [Duke Math. J. 129, No. 2, 249--290 (2005; Zbl 1094.57031)], and any \(G\)-torsor \(E\) gives rise to a \(d\)-dimensional quadratic form \(q\) of trivial discriminant and trivial Clifford invariant. If we consider the \(m\)-th Grassmannian variety \(X_m\) of totally isotropic \(m\)-dimensional subspaces of \(q\) (\(0\leq m\leq n\)), then its index will be of shape \(2^{i_m}\) with \(i_0=0\) and \(i_n=t\leq n\), and one has \(i_m=\min\{ m,t\}\) provided \(i_t=t\). One has \(i_t=t\) for generic forms of dimension \(d\leq 16\) except for \(d=10\) where \(t=1\) and \(i_1=0\). In [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 125, No. 4, 825--840 (2022; Zbl 1540.14014)], the author has shown that in any dimension, \(i_t\in\{ t-1,t\}\). The main result of the present paper is a `mathematical' proof of the fact, that for \(d=17,18\), one always has \(i_t=t-1\). The author points out that earlier computer calculations also yielded that result (also for \(d=19,20\)). The proof in the present paper uses properties of Chern classes in the Chow rings of the Grassmannians. As a corollary, the author obtains the result alluded to in the abstract of the paper, namely, that any \(18\)-dimensional nondegenerate quadratic form of trivial discriminant and Clifford invariant will have Witt index at least \(5\) over some finite ground field extension of degree not divisible by \(16\).