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For a cyclic extension $E/K$ of degree $m$ with generator $\sigma$ and $a\in K^{\times }$, the cyclic algebra is generated by $E$ and $u$ with $ub=\sigma (b)u$, $u^m=a$. It is a central simple algebra of degree $m$. Its Brauer class can also be written $(\chi ,a)$, where $\chi (\sigma )=1/m$.

For a local field with finite residue field, evaluate the Witt residue character on arithmetic Frobenius. This gives ${\mathrm{inv}}_K:\mathrm{Br}(K)\cong \mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$. For the unramified degree-$m$ cyclic algebra with arithmetic Frobenius generator and parameter $a$, the invariant is $v_K(a)/m$. Its reduced denominator is the index of the division representative.

For a complete discretely valued field with perfect residue field $k$, the Witt residue sequence is the split exact sequenceThe first map identifies the unramified Brauer classes. The residue map is canonical; a splitting is chosen by a uniformizer $\pi$ and sends an unramified character $\chi$ to the cyclic Brauer class $(\chi ,\pi )$. Changing $\pi$ may change this splitting by an unramified class. This is the version of Witt's theorem used here.

Now suppose $k={\mathbb{F}}_q$. Fix arithmetic Frobenius $F_k:a\mapsto a^q$. Define the local Brauer invariant byHere is an explicit cohomological construction. Set $E=K^{\mathrm{nr}}$ and $G=\mathrm{Gal}(E/K)\cong \hat{\mathbb{Z}}$. The permitted vanishing $\mathrm{Br}(E)=0$, together with Hilbert 90 and inflation, identifies $\mathrm{Br}(K)$ with $H^2(G,E^{\times })$. Normalize the valuation $v(\pi )=1$. Its induced map sends a multiplicative two-cocycle $c$ to the integer-valued two-cocycle $v(c)$, givingThe middle isomorphism is the connecting map for $0\to \mathbb{Z}\to \mathbb{Q}\to \mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\to 0$, since positive-degree continuous cohomology of the trivial module $\mathbb{Q}$ vanishes.

To see that the valuation map is an isomorphism, its module sequence splits using $\pi$, and the unit part has zero second cohomology. For each finite unramified cyclic extension $E_m/K$, cyclic cohomology identifies that unit contribution with ${\mathcal{O}}_K^{\times }/N_{E_m/K}{\mathcal{O}}_{E_m}^{\times }$. The norm on residue-field units is surjective. On the principal-unit quotient of level $r\ge 1$, the norm is the residue trace, through $N(1+{\pi }^{r}b)\equiv 1+{\pi }^r\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{b})(\mathrm{mod}{\pi }^{r+1})$. The trace of a finite separable field extension is surjective; successive corrections and completeness therefore make the norm surjective on all units. Passing to the direct limit gives the asserted vanishing. Finally, a continuous character of $\hat{\mathbb{Z}}$ is uniquely specified by its value on arithmetic Frobenius, and that value can be any element of $\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$. The invariant map is an isomorphism.

In concrete terms, if $E_m/K$ is the unramified extension of degree $m$ and $\sigma$ lifts arithmetic Frobenius, the cyclic algebra with $ub=\sigma (b)u$ and $u^m=a$ hasIndeed its standard two-cocycle has value $a$ when the powers of $\sigma$ wrap past $m$ and value one otherwise. Valuation turns this into the connecting cocycle for the character with Frobenius value $v_K(a)/m$. This also fixes the sign of the normalization.

For restriction and corestriction of local Brauer invariants, let $l$ be the residue field of $L$, $e$ the ramification index and $f=[l:k]$. A finite extension of local fields has $[L:K]=ef$, $v_L{|}_K=e{v}_K$ and $v_K(N_{L/K}b)=f{v}_L(b)$. Every class of $\mathrm{Br}(K)$ is $(\chi ,{\pi }_K)$, with $\chi$ unramified. After restriction to $L$, its character has Frobenius value $f\chi (F_k)$ and its parameter has valuation $e$. ThusFor corestriction, write a class of $\mathrm{Br}(L)$ as $({\chi }_l,{\pi }_L)$. Choose a character ${\chi }_k$ of the finite-field absolute group such that ${\mathrm{Res}}_{l/k}{\chi }_k={\chi }_l$. This is possible because restriction is multiplication by $f$ on $\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$, which is divisible. Inflate both characters to the local fields. The norm projection formula for cyclic Brauer pairings givesThis projection identity follows from the cohomological transfer and cup-product identity; on multiplicative degree-zero coefficients transfer is the field norm, and the identity in higher degree follows by the cochain definition or dimension shifting. The norm parameter has $K$-valuation $f$, so its invariant is $f{\chi }_k(F_k)={\chi }_l(F_l)$. ThereforeThis argument uses the character-and-norm description directly and does not cancel multiplication by $[L:K]$ in $\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$, where such cancellation would be invalid. For purely inseparable steps in equal characteristic, absolute Galois groups identify, restriction uses inclusion of multiplicative coefficient modules, and Brauer corestriction uses the field norm on them. The same projection calculation applies. Factoring a general finite extension into separable and purely inseparable steps covers all finite extensions in the question.

Lastly, a class with invariant $a/b$ in lowest terms has Brauer period $b$. The unramified extension of degree $b$ splits it, so its division-algebra degree divides $b$. Conversely a maximal subfield of the division algebra splits it and has degree equal to that division-algebra degree; the restriction formula forces $b$ to divide that degree. These standard splitting-field properties are among the permitted inputs. Thus the index of a central simple algebra equals its period over a local field. The central division algebras of degree $n$ are exactly those with invariants $a/n$ and $\gcd (a,n)=1$. The Brauer class determines its division representative uniquely, so there areisomorphism classes, where $\phi$ is the Euler totient function. This includes the single degree-one algebra $K$.