Quadratic null forms over a function field

Quadratic forms \(f(x_1, \ldots, x_m)\) with coefficients in a field \(K\) of algebraic functions of one indeterminate over a finite field of constants are here treated. As for algebraic number fields, every \(f\) with \(m\geq 5\) is a null form (i. e., properly represents zero). This theorem, stated without explicit proof by \textit{E. Witt} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 176, 31--44 (1936; Zbl 0015.05701)] for characteristic \(p\neq 2\), is proven by the author for any \(p\). For \(p\neq 2\) the diagonal form \(f_0= a_1x_1^2+a_2x_2^2+a_3x_3^2\) is a partial norm form of the quaternion algebra \(Q=(1, i, j, ij)\) with \(i^2 =-a_3/a_2\), \(j^2=-a_3/a_1\), \(ji=-ij\) over \(K\), while the theorem for diagonal forms with more variables is reduced to this case by a Chinese remainder theorem construction of extensions which split Q. For \(p=2\), consider more general pure forms \(f=\sum b_1x_i^2\) of degree \(q=p^e\), coefficients \(b_i\) in a function field \(K\) of \(r\) indeterminates, with perfect constant field. For any \(p\), \(K\) is separable over suitable indeterminates and has an extension of degree \(q^r\) containing \(q\)th roots of all elements in \(K\); hence every \(f\) with \(m > q^r\) is a null form. For 5 variables, \(r=1\), \(p=2\), this gives the original theorem for \(f\) in suitable normal form. Quadratic forms with \(m>5\), \(r=1\), \(p=2\) are null if and only if corresponding algebras have specified properties; thus the ternary form \(f = a_1x_1^2+a_2x_2^2+a_3x_3^2+ x_1x_2\), is \(a_3^{-1}\) times a norm form of the algebra \(Q=(1, i, j, ij)\) with \(i^2 = i + a_1a_2\), \(j^2 = 1/a_1a_3\), \(ji = (i+1)j\), and \(f\) is null if und only if \(Q\) is a total matric algebra.

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