Symbol length and stability index
Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic not \(2\). Let \(n\in{\mathbb N}\) and denote by \(k_n(F)\) the Milnor \(K\)-group \(K_n(F)\) modulo \(2\). \(k_n(F)\) is additively generated by ``symbols \(\{ a_1,\ldots,a_n\}\), \(a_i\in F^\times\), and by theorems by Voevodsky resp. Orlov-Vishik-Voevodsky it is known that \(k_n(F)\) is isomorphic via canonical homomorphisms to \(I^nF/I^{n+1}F\) (where \(I^nF\) denotes the \(n\)-th power of the fundamental ideal \(IF\) in the Witt ring \(WF\)) and to \(H^n(F,{\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z})\), the \(n\)-th Galois cohomology group of \(F\) with coefficients in \({\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}\) (these statements were formerly known as the Milnor Conjectures). The \(n\)-symbol length \(\lambda_n(F)\) is defined to be the smallest nonnegative integer \(m\) such that each element in \(k_n(F)\) can be written as a sum of \(m\) symbols, provided such an integer exists, and \(\lambda_n(F)=\infty\) otherwise. If \(F\) is real and \(T\) is a preordering on \(F\) with \([F^\times:T^\times]=2^{n+1}\), and \(X_T\) is the space of those orderings on \(F\) that contain \(T\), then it is known that \(|X_T|\leq 2^n\), and \(T\) is called a fan of degree \(n\) if equality holds. The (reduced) stability index \(\text{st}(F)\) is defined to be the supremum of the degrees of all the fans of \(F\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe main purpose of the present paper is to relate \(\text{st}(F)\) to \(\lambda_n(F)\) for a real field \(F\), and more generally in the context of an abstract Witt ring with suitable adaptations of the definitions of the symbol length and the stability index. The results for fields read as follows. If \(\lambda_i(F)<\infty\) for some \(i\geq 2\) then \(\text{st}(F)<\infty\), in particular \(\text{st}(F)\leq 2\lambda_2(F)-1\). If \(F\) is Pythagorean, then one also has that \(s=\text{st}(F)<\infty\) implies \(\lambda_2(F)<\infty\). More precisely, one has \(\lambda_2(F)=s\) if \(1\leq s\leq 2\), and \([s/2]+1\leq \lambda_2(F)\leq 2^{s-1}(2^{s-2}-1)\) if \(s\geq 3\). Examples show that for \(s\geq 3\), the lower bound is sharp, but it is apparently not clear how good the upper bound really is.
- Algebraic K-theory and quadratic forms. With an appendix by J. Tate
- An exact sequence for \(K^M_*/2\) with applications to quadratic forms
- Central simple algebras and Galois cohomology
- Characterization of fans and hereditarily pythagorean fields
- Comparison of some field invariants
- Decomposability for division algebras of exponent two and associated forms
- Going up of the \(u\)-invariant over formally real fields
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2132158 (Why is no real title available?)
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3815780 (Why is no real title available?)
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3704673 (Why is no real title available?)
- Indecomposable algebras of prime exponent.
- On the theory of quadratic forms over formally real fields
- Quelques remarques sur le u-invariant
- Reduzierte quadratische Formen und Semiordnungen reeller Körper
- Symbol lengths in Milnor \(K\)-theory
- Un critère pour reconnaître les fonctions algébriquement constructibles
- Symbol lengths in Milnor \(K\)-theory
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4019184 (Why is no real title available?)
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3943976 (Why is no real title available?)
- On real local-global principles
- Symbol length of classes in Milnor 𝐾-groups
- Fields with bounded Brauer 2-torsion index
- A comparison of finiteness conditions in quadratic form theory
This page was built for publication: Symbol length and stability index
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q448395)
