Splitting fields of \(G\)-varieties. (Q700587)

Let \(G\) be an algebraic group defined over an algebraically closed field \(k.\) Let \(X\) be a generically free \(G\)-variety, and let \(K/k\) be a field extension of finite transcendence degree. Let \(u\in H^{1}\left( K,G\right) \) correspond to the class of \(X\). An extension \(L/K\) is a splitting field for \( u\;\)if the natural map \(H^{1}\left( K,G\right) \rightarrow H^{1}\left( L,G\right) \) carries \(u\) to \(1\) (the distinguished element in \(H^{1}\left( L,G\right) \)). Furthermore if \(L/K\) is a finite Galois extension then Gal\((L/K)\) is called the splitting group for \(X\). This paper is a study of the splitting fields of these varieties. For \(X\) a primitive (generically free) \(G\)-variety we can let \(K\) be the set of points in \(k\left( X\right) \) fixed by \(G\). Let \(L/K\) be a splitting field for \(X\). The first main result of this paper is that if \(X\) has a smooth point fixed by a finite abelian \(p\)-subgroup \(H\) of \(G\) then \(\left[ L:K\right] \) is divisible by \([H:H_T]\) for some toral subgroup \(H_T\) of \(H\). This can be viewed as giving a ``lower bound'' on a splitting field. Several examples of this result are given, including the exceptional groups \(G_2\), \(F_4\), \(3E_6\), \(E_7\) and \(E_8\). Much work is offered as well in the case where \(G=\)P\(\text{GL}_n\). The second main result is the following. Again suppose \(X\) is primitive, and let \(A\) be a splitting group for \(X\). Again suppose \(X\) has a smooth point fixed by a finite abelian \(p\)-subgroup \(H\) of \(G.\) Then \(A\) contains a copy of \(H/H_{T}\) for some toral subgroup \(H_{T}\) of \(H.\) Thus this puts a lower bound on the splitting group for \(X\). The \(E_{7}\) and \(E_{8}\) examples are revisited here. The authors then obtain an application to the second result. Let \(Z\left( p^{r}\right) \) be the center of the universal division algebra UD\(\left( p^{r}\right) .\) Let \(K\) be a field extension of \(Z\left( p^{r}\right) \) and let \(D=\)UD\(\left( p^{r}\right) \otimes _{Z\left( p^{r}\right) }K.\) If \(A\) is a splitting group for \(D\) then \(p^{2r-2e-2}\) divides \(\left| A\right| ,\) where \(p^{e}\) is the highest power of \(p\) dividing \([K:Z(p^r)]\). From this it follows that if \(r\geq 2e+3\) then \(D\) is a noncrossed product. Finally, the paper addresses the problem of constructing noncrossed product examples whose centers are function fields \(K\) with ``small'' transcendence degree. The result is as follows. For \(r\geq 2\) and \(p\) a prime there exists a division algebra \(D\) of degree \(p^r\) with center \(K\) such that tr\,deg\(_k(K)=6\) and no prime-to-\(p\) extension of \(D\) is a crossed product.