Trace forms of Galois extensions in the presence of a fourth root of unity

Abstract

We study quadratic forms that can occur as trace forms of Galois field extensions L/K, under the assumption that K contains a primitive 4th root of unity. M. Epkenhans conjectured that any such form is a scaled Pfister form. We prove this conjecture and classify the finite groups G which admit a G-Galois extension L/K with a non-hyperbolic trace form. We also give several applications of these results.

19 pages, to appear in International Math Research Notices