Genus of quaternion algebras over formally real fields

Abstract

We prove the finiteness of the genus of quaternion division algebras over some formally real fields. In particular, if $F$ is a formally real field and the second power of the fundamental ideal $I^2(F)$ is torsion-free, then the genus of any quaternion division $F$-algebra is trivial. For instance, this immediately implies that the genus vanishes for any quaternion division algebra over a formally real pythagorean field. The proofs are based on methods from the theory of quadratic forms.

arXiv comment9 pages