Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 21 / 1

Write $d=\mathrm{deg}A$ for the degree of a central simple algebra, so ${\dim }_{K}A=d^2$. Choose a finite Galois splitting field of a central simple algebra $E/K$ for $A$ and an isomorphism $\varphi :A{\otimes }_{K}E\to M_d(E)$. The reduced norm isThe existence of a finite separable splitting field is a standard structural property of a central simple algebra; passing to its Galois closure supplies $E$.

Every $E$-algebra automorphism of $M_d(E)$ is inner. Here is the matrix-unit argument for the inner automorphisms of a matrix algebra result. For an automorphism $h$, choose $w\ne 0$ in the image of $h(E_{11})$, and set $w_i=h(E_{i1})w$. Then $h(E_{ij})w_k={\delta }_{jk}{w}_i$. The $w_i$ are nonzero and independent, and their number is $d$, so they form a basis. Relative to that basis $h$ acts on each matrix unit in the usual way. Thus $h(T)=PT{P}^{-1}$ for some $P\in {\mathrm{GL}}_d(E)$. Determinants are unchanged by conjugation, proving independence of $\varphi$.

For $\sigma \in \mathrm{Gal}(E/K)$, compare $\varphi$ with the isomorphism obtained by applying $\sigma$ to matrix entries and ${\sigma }^{-1}$ to the scalar factor of $A\otimes E$. Their difference is again inner. For $a\in A$, this shows $\sigma (\det \varphi (a))=\det \varphi (a)$. The determinant therefore belongs to $K$. In fact, for a $K$-basis $a_1,\dots ,a_{d^2}$, the same comparison shows that all coefficients ofare fixed by the Galois group, so the reduced norm is a homogeneous polynomial of degree $d$ over $K$. This coefficient argument also applies over finite fields, where equality merely as functions would not identify polynomials.

Finally, two finite splitting fields embed into a common finite splitting extension. Determinant commutes with scalar extension, and over that common extension the two matrix identifications differ by an inner automorphism. Hence the resulting polynomials agree over $K$. The reduced norm is independent of both the splitting field and the matrix identification. It is multiplicative, and $\mathrm{Nrd}(a)=0$ exactly when $a$ is not invertible: a matrix with nonzero determinant is invertible after scalar extension, and invertibility descends by the invertibility of the $K$-linear multiplication map. In a division algebra the only element of reduced norm zero is zero.

For a nonnegative integer $r$, a Cr field is a field over which every homogeneous polynomial of positive degree $d$ in $N>d^r$ variables has a nontrivial zero. Thus a C1 field uses the bound $N>d$, and a C2 field uses $N>d^2$.

The required field theorems are as follows. The Chevalley-Warning theorem implies that every finite field is $C_1$: 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 $s$ of a $C_r$ field is $C_{r+s}$. The Tsen theorem states that the function field of a curve over an algebraically closed field is $C_1$. In particular, finite fields, algebraically closed fields and fields such as $\mathbb{C}(t)$ are examples of $C_1$ fields. A function field of one variable over a finite field is $C_2$ 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 $m=[L:K]$ and choose a $K$-basis $u_1,\dots ,u_m$ of $L$. Given a homogeneous $f\in L[X_1,\dots ,X_N]$ of degree $d$ with $N>d$, substitute $X_i={\sum }_j{x}_{ij}{u}_j$ and take the field norm:The field norm is the determinant of multiplication on the $m$-dimensional $K$-space $L$, hence a homogeneous polynomial of degree $m$ in its coordinates. Consequently $F$ is homogeneous of degree $md$ in $mN>md$ variables over $K$. The $C_1$ property gives a nonzero coordinate vector $(x_{ij})$ with $F=0$. Its corresponding vector $(X_i)\in L^N$ is nonzero, since the $u_j$ are a basis. The norm of a field element vanishes only for the zero element, so $f(X_1,\dots ,X_N)=0$. Every finite extension of a $C_1$ field is $C_1$. This proof includes inseparable finite extensions, because the determinant definition of the field norm requires no separability.

Every Brauer class has a central division algebra representative $D$, and every central simple algebra is a matrix algebra over such a $D$. Put $d=\mathrm{deg}D$; its reduced norm is a homogeneous degree-$d$ polynomial on the $d^2$-dimensional vector space $D$.

If $d>1$, then $d^2>d$, so the $C_1$ property supplies a nonzero $x\in D$ with $\mathrm{Nrd}(x)=0$. But every nonzero element of a division algebra is invertible, and its reduced norm cannot be zero. Thus $d=1$, and a central division algebra of degree one is $K$ itself. Every central simple algebra over $K$ is therefore a matrix algebra over $K$, givingThis proves the trivial Brauer group of a C1 field. The essential ingredient is the anisotropy of a division algebra's reduced norm, not the norm polynomial of an arbitrary matrix algebra, which certainly can vanish on nonzero singular matrices.

Let $k$ be the full constant field of $K$. It is a finite extension of the given finite field, hence is itself finite. Since $k$ is perfect and algebraically closed in $K$, the one-variable extension $K/k$ is regular. In a common algebraic closure, put $E=K\overline{k}$. Then $E$ is the function field of a geometrically integral curve over the algebraically closed field $\overline{k}$.

The Tsen theorem makes $E$ a $C_1$ field, and the preceding argument gives $\mathrm{Br}(E)=0$. Thus $A{\otimes }_{K}E$ is a matrix algebra. A splitting isomorphism and its inverse involve only finitely many coefficients in $E$. All these coefficients lie in $K{k}^{\prime }$ for some finite extension $k^{\prime }/k$, since $E$ is the union of these finite constant extensions. The two isomorphism identities consequently already hold over $K{k}^{\prime }$, so $A$ splits there.

Finite extensions of a finite field are cyclic, and regularity gives $K\cap k^{\prime }=k$ and preserves their degree under this scalar extension. Thereforeis cyclic. A finite cyclic extension of constants splits $A$. This is cyclic splitting by extension of constants. The argument does not assert that the splitting extension has degree exactly the index of $A$; a larger cyclic constant extension is sufficient for the requested conclusion.

Put $d=\mathrm{deg}D$, choose a $K$-basis of $D$, and let $N(X_1,\dots ,X_{d^2})$ be its reduced norm polynomial. For $a\in K^{\times }$, considerThis has degree $d$ and $d^2+1>d^2$ variables. The $C_2$ property gives a nontrivial zero $(x,t)$. Necessarily $t\ne 0$: otherwise $N(x)=0$ forces $x=0$ in the division algebra, making the whole coordinate vector zero. Homogeneity now gives $N(x/t)=a$. The value zero is achieved by the zero element. HenceThis is the surjectivity of reduced norms over C2 fields, and the proof also gives the multiplicative surjection $D^{\times }\to K^{\times }$. The argument works for degree one as well.