arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A. -H. Nokhodkar.
We investigate the pfaffians of decomposable biquaternion algebras with involution of orthogonal type. In characteristic two, a classification of these algebras in terms of their pfaffians and some other related invariants is studied. Also, in arbitrary characteristic, a criterion is obtained for an orthogonal involution on a biquaternion algebra to be metabolic.
We associate to every central simple algebra with involution of orthogonal type in characteristic two a totally singular quadratic form which reflects certain anisotropy properties of the involution. It is shown that this quadratic form can be used to classify totally decomposable algebras with orthogonal involution. Also, using this form, a criterion is obtained for an orthogonal involution on a split algebra to be conjugated to the transpose involution.
In characteristic two, it is shown that a central simple algebra of degree equal to a power of two with anisotropic orthogonal involution is totally decomposable, if it becomes either anisotropic or metabolic over all extensions of the ground field. A similar result is obtained for the case where this algebra with involution is Brauer-equivalent to a quaternion algebra and it becomes adjoint to a bilinear Pfister form over all splitting fields of the algebra.
The question of whether a split tensor product of quaternion algebras with involution over a field of characteristic two can be expressed as a tensor product of split quaternion algebras with involution, is shown to have an affirmative answer.
A necessary and sufficient condition for a central simple algebra with involution over a field of characteristic two to be decomposable as a tensor product of quaternion algebras with involution, in terms of its Frobenius subalgebras, is given. It is also proved that a bilinear Pfister form, recently introduced by A. Dolphin, can classify totally decomposable central simple algebras of orthogonal type.