The structure of annihilating polynomials for quadratic forms

Speaker: Mr. Klaas-Tido Ruehl (EPFL)

Time: 4:00PM

Date: Wed 11th February 2009

Location: Mathematical Sciences Seminar Room

Abstract
Let R[X] be the polynomial ring in one variable over a principal ideal domain R. For any given ideal I in R[X} it is possible to construct a set of generators P_1, ... , P_r with certain nice properties. We apply and refine these results in the case that I is an annihilating ideal for an element of a Witt ring for a group of exponent 2. In this special case it is possible to describe the shape of the leading coefficients and the greatest common divisor Q of the P_i. If m > 0 is the minimal natural number such that mQ lies in I, we can furthermore use m to deduce an upper bound for the number r of generators of I.

(This talk is part of the K-Theory, Quadratic Forms and Number Theory series.)