For a degree- extension , substitute a -basis of into a homogeneous degree- polynomial in variables over , then take its field norm. The resulting degree- polynomial has variables over . A nonzero zero over a C1 field gives a nonzero zero of the original form because the norm of a field element vanishes only at zero. Separability is unnecessary.
A finitely generated field extension of transcendence degree of a field is . In particular a function field of a curve over a C1 field is . The theorem includes stability under finite algebraic extensions when .
For a nonnegative integer , a Cr field is a field over which every homogeneous polynomial of positive degree in variables has a nontrivial zero. Thus a C1 field uses the bound , and a C2 field uses .
The required field theorems are as follows. The Chevalley-Warning theorem implies that every finite field is : the number of zeros of a polynomial with degree smaller than its number of variables is divisible by the characteristic, and for a homogeneous polynomial the origin is already a zero. The Lang-Nagata theorem for Ci fields states that a finitely generated extension of transcendence degree of a field is . The Tsen theorem states that the function field of a curve over an algebraically closed field is . In particular, finite fields, algebraically closed fields and fields such as are examples of fields. A function field of one variable over a finite field is by the Lang theorem. These are statements of the theorems; no theorem proof is needed here.
For the requested finite extension stability of C1 fields, let and choose a -basis of . Given a homogeneous of degree with , substitute and take the field norm:
The field norm is the determinant of multiplication on the -dimensional -space , hence a homogeneous polynomial of degree in its coordinates. Consequently is homogeneous of degree in variables over . The property gives a nonzero coordinate vector with . Its corresponding vector is nonzero, since the are a basis. The norm of a field element vanishes only for the zero element, so . Every finite extension of a field is . This proof includes inseparable finite extensions, because the determinant definition of the field norm requires no separability.
A central division algebra of degree has an anisotropic reduced norm of degree in variables. That contradicts the C1 field property. Thus only degree one is possible, and every central simple algebra is split.
Tsen theorem 2026-10-07
The function field of a curve over an algebraically closed field is a C1 field. Consequently its Brauer group is zero. This is the input for cyclic splitting by extension of constants over a finite constant field.