Weak isotropy of central simple algebras with orthogonal involutions over totally positive field extensions

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the behavior of orthogonal involutions in the context of totally positive field extensions. Let $K/F$ be a totally positive extension of formally real fields. By Becher's result, if a quadratic form $q$ over $F$ becomes isotropic over $K$, then $q$ is weakly isotropic over $F$. We present an example in which, despite $K/F$ being totally positive, a central simple algebra $(A,\sigma )$ over $F$ with an orthogonal involution becomes isotropic over $K$, while remaining strongly isotropic over $F$. However, when $K/F$ is assumed to be a Galois totally positive $2$-extension of formally real fields, we show that an analogue of Becher's result for quadratic forms holds for orthogonal involutions. Furthermore, for a totally positive Galois field extension $K/F$, we verify Becher's conjecture for central division algebras of index $2^n$ and exponent $2$ containing a subfield of $F_{py}$ of degree $2^{n-2}$ over $F$.