The Schur group of an Abelian number field. (Q952240)

Let \(K\) be a field and \(A\) a central simple \(K\)-algebra. We say that \(A\) is a Schur algebra, if it is generated by a finite group of units. The subgroup \(S(K)\) of the Brauer group \(\text{Br}(K)\), formed by similarity classes containing a Schur algebra, is called the Schur group of \(K\). By the Brauer-Witt theorem [see, for example, \textit{T. Yamada}, The Schur subgroup of the Brauer group. (Lect. Notes Math. 397), (1974; Zbl 0321.20004)], each class in \(S(K)\) can be presented by a cyclotomic algebra, i.e. a crossed product of the form \((L/K,\alpha)\), where \(L/K\) is a cyclotomic extension and the factor set \(\alpha\) has values in the group \(W(L)\) of roots of unity in \(L\). When \(K\) is a finite Abelian extension of the field \(\mathbb{Q}\) of rational numbers, the elements of \(S(K)\) are partially characterized by Benard-Schacher theory [see \textit{M. Benard, M. M. Schacher}, J. Algebra 22, 378-385 (1972; Zbl 0239.20007)]. In the first place, it shows that \(S(K)\) is of finite exponent which divides the order of \(W(K)\). Secondly, it determines the behaviour of the local invariants of an algebra \(A\in S(K)\) over the prime ideals of the maximal order of \(K\) lying above an arbitrary prime number \(r\in\mathbb{Q}\). This singles out a positive integer \(m_r(A)\), called an \(r\)-local invariant of \(A\). As shown by the theory, \(m_r(A)\neq 1\), for finitely many \(r\), and the Schur index \(\text{ind}(A)\) equals the least common multiple of the \(m_r(A)\), when \(r\) runs across the set of prime numbers. This ensures the existence of a maximum \(r\)-local index \(\delta_r(A)\). The paper under review characterizes \(\delta_r(A)\) in terms of global information determined by \(K\). It provides explicit formulae for the powers in the primary decomposition of \(\delta_r(A)\). This completes and unifies earlier results of \textit{G. J. Janusz} [Ann. Math. (2) 103, 253-281 (1976; Zbl 0352.16004)] and \textit{J. W. Pendergrass} [J. Algebra 41, 422-438 (1976; Zbl 0359.16006)]. In addition, the authors correct some of the calculations made by Pendergrass.