Quadratic forms with applications to algebraic geometry and topology /
Quadratic Forms with Applications to Algebraic Geometry & Topology
Albrecht Pfister.
- Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1995.
- 1 online resource (viii, 179 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).
- London Mathematical Society lecture note series ; 217 .
- London Mathematical Society lecture note series ; 217. .
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
Ch. 1. The Representation Theorems of Cassels -- Ch. 2. Multiplicative Quadratic Forms -- Ch. 3. The Level of Fields, Rings, and Topological Spaces -- Ch. 4. Hilbert's Homogeneous Nullstellensatz for p-fields and Applications to Topology -- Ch. 5. Tsen-Lang Theory for [actual symbol not reproducible] -- Ch. 6. Hilbert's 17th Problem -- Ch. 7. The Pythagoras Number -- Ch. 8. The u-invariant -- Ch. 9. Systems of Quadratic Forms -- Ch. 10. The Level of Projective Spaces.
This volume has grown out of lectures given by Professor Pfister over many years. The emphasis here is placed on results about quadratic forms that give rise to interconnections between number theory, algebra, algebraic geometry and topology. Topics discussed include Hilbert's 17th problem, the Tsen-Lang theory of quasi algebraically closed fields, the level of topological spaces and systems of quadratic forms over arbitrary fields. Whenever possible proofs are short and elegant, and the author's aim was to make this book as self-contained as possible. This is a gem of a book bringing together thirty years' worth of results that are certain to interest anyone whose research touches on quadratic forms.