The Pythagoras number of a rational function field in two variables

MaRDI QIDQ6427285zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors Karim Johannes Becher, Nicolas Daans, David Grimm, Gonzalo Manzano-Flores, Marco Zaninelli

Publication date 22 February 2023

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Algebraic theory of quadratic forms; Witt groups and rings (11E81) Fields related with sums of squares (formally real fields, Pythagorean fields, etc.) (12D15) Valued fields (12J10)

Abstract: We prove that every sum of squares in the rational function field in two variables $K(X,Y)$ over a hereditarily pythagorean field $K$ is a sum of $8$ squares. More precisely, we show that the Pythagoras number of every finite extension of $K(X)$ is at most $5$. The main ingredients of the proof are a local-global principle for quadratic forms over function fields in one variable over a complete rank-$1$ valued field due to V. Mehmeti and a valuation theoretic characterization of hereditarily pythagorean fields due to L. Br"ocker.

This page was built for publication: The Pythagoras number of a rational function field in two variables

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6427285)