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# Brauer Groups of Genus Zero Extensions of Number Fields

## Introduction

Let $`K`$ be a countable field, $`\mathrm{Br}(K)`$ its Brauer group. Then $`\mathrm{Br}(K)`$ is a countable abelian torsion group; hence, as an abstract group, it is completely determined by its Ulm invariants $`U_p(\lambda ,\mathrm{Br}(K))`$, where $`p`$ is a prime number and $`\lambda `$ is an ordinal number (see definition below). With this observation, Fein and Schacher initiated the investigation of the Ulm invariants of algebraic function fields over global fields, which culminated in the determination of all the Ulm invariants of the Brauer group of a *rational* function field $`K`$ in finitely many variables over a global field $`k`$ (see \[FSS1\]). For nonrational function fields in one variable over a global field $`k`$, the closest thing to a rational function field would be a nonrational function field $`K`$ of genus zero over $`k`$. In \[FSS2\], all the Ulm invariants $`U_p(\lambda ,\mathrm{Br}(K))`$ for such a field $`K`$ are determined, except for one (!), namely $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(K))`$. It turns out that all of the Ulm invariants of $`\mathrm{Br}(K)`$, except for the missing one, coincide with those of $`\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$. The problem of this missing Ulm invariant has remained open; in fact, until now, there was not even a single example known of a nonrational genus zero function field over a global field for which the missing Ulm invariant $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(K))`$ had been computed. In view of the fact that $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(k(t)))=0`$, $`\mathrm{Br}(K)\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$ if and only if $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(K))=0`$.

In this paper we determine the first known isomorphism classes of Brauer groups of nonrational genus zero extensions $`E/k`$ of number fields $`k`$. We prove the following

###### Main Theorem.

Let $`k`$ be a totally real number field and $`l/k`$ the quadratic subfield of the cyclotomic $`_2`$-extension $`k^{cyc}/k`$.

Suppose that $`E`$ is a genus zero extension of $`k`$ which is split by $`l`$, and suppose that the Leopoldt Conjecture holds for the field $`l`$ and the prime $`2`$. Then $`\mathrm{Br}(E)\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$.

Since the Leopoldt Conjecture (see \[NSW, §10.3\]) is known to be true for all abelian number fields \[Br\] (see also \[NSW, Thms. 10.3.14 and 10.3.16\]), we have

###### Corollary.

Suppose $`k`$ is a totally real abelian number field not containing $`\sqrt{2}`$. Then if $`E/k`$ is a genus zero extension split by $`k(\sqrt{2})`$, then $`\mathrm{Br}(E)\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$.

In particular, $`\mathrm{Br}(E)\mathrm{Br}((t))`$ for all genus zero extensions $`E`$ of $``$ split by $`(\sqrt{2})`$.

We approach $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ via $`\mathrm{Br}(El)`$, where $`l/k`$ is a quadratic extension such that $`El`$ is a rational function field. The Auslander-Brumer-Faddeev theorem establishes an isomorphism between $`\mathrm{Br}(El)`$ and a direct sum of $`\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ and character groups of extensions of $`l`$, and we study an order two action on $`\mathrm{Br}(El)`$ in terms of standard cohomological maps on these summands. Section 1 introduces this approach, and section 2 establishes properties of the order two action. Then in section 3 we present a technical analysis of heights of elements in the fixed subgroup of this order two action. Finally, in section 4 we prove the Main Theorem.

## 1. Preliminaries

Let $`k`$ be a perfect field. For any Galois field extension $`K/k`$, let $`G_{K/k}`$ denote the Galois group. Let $`\overline{K}`$ denote the algebraic closure of $`K`$ and $`G_K`$ the absolute Galois group $`G_{\overline{K}/K}`$.

We denote by $`k^{}`$ the multiplicative group of $`k`$, by $`\mathrm{X}(k)`$ its character group $`H^1(G_k,/)`$, and by $`\mathrm{Br}(k)`$ its Brauer group $`H^2(G_k,\overline{k}^{})`$. Similarly, $`\mathrm{Br}(K/k)`$ denotes the relative Brauer group of $`K/k`$, identified with $`H^2(G_{K/k},K^{})`$. All cohomology groups will be written additively, and all modules will be left modules.

For an additive abelian torsion group $`A`$, we write $`A_2`$ for the $`2`$-primary component of $`A`$. The Ulm subgroups (for the prime 2) of $`A_2`$ are defined for any ordinary $`\lambda `$ by $`A_2(0)=A_2`$, $`A_2(\lambda +1)=2A_2(\lambda )`$, and for $`\lambda `$ a limit ordinal, $`A_2(\lambda )=_{\lambda ^{}<\lambda }A_2(\lambda ^{})`$. The least $`\lambda `$ such that $`A_2(\lambda )=A_2(\lambda +1)`$ is the Ulm length of $`A_2`$. Now let $`P(\lambda )=\{\alpha A_2(\lambda ):2\alpha =0\}`$. The Ulm invariant of $`A_2`$ at $`\lambda `$, denoted $`U_2(\lambda ,A_2)`$, is $`[P(\lambda )/P(\lambda +1):/2]`$.

We write $`\mathrm{ht}_{A_2}(\alpha )`$ or $`\mathrm{ht}_A(\alpha )`$ for the height of $`\alpha A_2`$ in $`A_2`$, defined to be $`\lambda `$ such that $`\alpha A_2(\lambda )A_2(\lambda +1)`$ if such a $`\lambda `$ exists; otherwise, $`\alpha A_2`$ is divisible and we write $`\mathrm{ht}_A(\alpha )=\mathrm{}`$. We denote by $`D(A)`$ the divisible subgroup of $`A`$. For $`\alpha 0`$, we will say that a *divisible tower over* $`\alpha `$ is a set $`\{\alpha _i\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}`$ satisfying $`2^j\alpha _i=\alpha _{ij}`$ for $`ji`$ and $`\alpha _0=\alpha `$. Given nonzero $`\alpha A_2`$, $`\alpha D(A_2)`$ if and only if there exists a divisible tower over $`\alpha `$.

### 1.1. The Genus Zero Extension $`E`$

A genus zero extension $`E`$ over a field $`k`$ is the quotient field of $`k[x,y]/1cx^2dy^2`$ for $`c,dk^{}`$. We set $`l=k(\sqrt{d})`$. The quaternion algebra $`(c,d)`$ is split in $`\mathrm{Br}(k)`$ iff $`E`$ is isomorphic to a rational function field in one variable over $`k`$. We will assume throughout that $`(c,d)`$ is not split. Hence $`lE`$.

Let $`El`$ denote the compositum of $`l`$ and $`E`$. We determine an element $`u`$ such that $`El=l(u)`$ as follows. Let $`u=(1+\sqrt{d}y)/x`$. Then $`u(1\sqrt{d}y)/x=c`$, so that $`c/u=(1\sqrt{d}y)/x`$. Moreover, $`x=2/(u+c/u)`$ and $`y=(2u/(u+c/u)1)/\sqrt{d}`$, establishing that $`El=l(u)`$.

We denote by $`\sigma `$ the unique nontrivial element of $`G_{l/k}`$ and by $`s`$ the nontrivial element of $`G_{El/E}`$. We may extend $`\sigma `$ to an element of $`G_k`$, which by abuse of language we also denote by $`\sigma `$, and we similarly denote by $`s`$ the corresponding extension of $`s`$ to $`G_{E\overline{k}/E}`$.

In what follows $`p`$ will always be restricted to monic, irreducible $`pl[u]\{u\}`$, and for each $`p`$ we fix a root $`a_p`$ of $`p`$ for the remainder of the paper. If $`\{a_i\}\overline{k}^{}`$ are the roots of $`p`$, we set $`\stackrel{~}{p}l[X]`$ to be the monic, irreducible polynomial with roots $`\{c/\sigma (a_i)\}`$. Since $`\sigma ^2G_l`$, $`p\stackrel{~}{p}`$ is an order two action.

###### Lemma 1.

The map $`s`$ acts triangularly on

$$\overline{k}(u)^{}=\overline{k}^{}\times u\times \underset{a\overline{k}^{}}{}u+a$$

by

1. $`s(a)=\sigma (a)`$, $`a\overline{k}^{}`$;
2. $`s(u)=c\frac{1}{u}`$; and
3. $`s(u+a)=\sigma (a)\frac{1}{u}(u+\frac{c}{\sigma (a)})`$, $`a\overline{k}^{}`$.

Moreover, for all $`p`$, $`s(p)=\sigma (p(0))u^{\mathrm{deg}p}\stackrel{~}{p}(u)`$.

For later use we define componentwise homomorphisms $`s_{uu}:uu`$, $`s_{u+a,u}:u+au`$, and $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}:_{p(a)=0}u+a_{\stackrel{~}{p}(a)=0}u+a`$ by $`s_{uu}(u^e)=s_{u+a,u}((u+a)^e)=1/u^e`$ and

$$s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}\left(\underset{p(a)=0}{}(u+a)^{e_a}\right)=\underset{p(a)=0}{}\left(u+\frac{c}{\sigma (a)}\right)^{e_a}=\underset{\stackrel{~}{p}(a)=0}{}(u+a)^{e_{c/\sigma ^1(a)}}.$$

### 1.2. The Brauer Group of $`E`$

We have identified $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ with $`H^2(G_E,\overline{E}^{})`$. The algebraic closure $`\overline{E}`$ of $`E`$ is identical to the algebraic closure of $`\overline{k}(u)`$, and since by Tsen’s theorem the Brauer group of $`\overline{k}(u)`$ is trivial, we have that $`H^2(G_E,\overline{E}^{})H^2(G_{\overline{k}(u)/E},\overline{k}(u)^{})`$. Now every element $`\gamma G_k`$ lifts to $`\gamma ^{}G_{\overline{k}(u)/E}`$ by extending the automorphism trivially on $`x`$ and $`y`$. Inversely, since $`\overline{k}(u)=E_k\overline{k}`$ and $`k`$ is algebraically closed in $`E`$, any element $`\gamma ^{}G_{\overline{k}(u)/E}`$ sends $`\overline{k}`$ to $`\overline{k}`$. Therefore we may and do identify $`G_{\overline{k}(u)/E}`$ with $`G_k`$, and we have $`\mathrm{Br}(E)H^2(G_k,\overline{k}(u)^{})`$.

Now by Hilbert’s Theorem 90, $`H^1(G_l,\overline{k}(u)^{})`$ is trivial. Moreover, since $`G_{l/k}`$ is finite cyclic, $`H^3(G_{l/k},l(u)^{})H^1(G_{l/k},l(u)^{})`$, which is also trivial by Theorem 90. The standard inflation-restriction five-term exact sequence \[NSW, Prop. 1.6.6\] beginning with $`H^2`$ then begins

(1)
$$0H^2(G_{l/k},l(u)^{})H^2(G_k,\overline{k}(u)^{})\stackrel{\mathit{\varphi }}{}H^2(G_l,\overline{k}(u)^{})^{G_{l/k}}0,$$

or, equivalently,

$$0\mathrm{Br}(El/E)\mathrm{Br}(E)\mathrm{Br}(l(u))^{G_{l/k}}0.$$

Now $`\sigma G_k`$ acts naturally on $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))=H^2(G_l,\overline{k}(u)^{})`$: given a 2-cocycle $`h`$, this action is $`h^s(g_1,g_2)=s(h(\sigma ^1g_1\sigma ,\sigma ^1g_2\sigma ))`$, where $`s`$ acts on $`\overline{k}(u)^{}`$ as above. We denote this action on $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))`$ by $`s^{}`$, and the fixed group in (1) on the right is therefore $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))^s^{}`$.

### 1.3. The Auslander-Brumer-Faddeev Decomposition

Recall that the Auslander-Brumer-Faddeev theorem (\[AB, Prop. 4.1\], \[Fa, Thms. 15.2, 15.3\]) establishes an isomorphism

(2)
$$\mathrm{Br}(l(u))\mathrm{Br}(l)\mathrm{X}(l)\left(_p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))\right).$$

We will need the particular isomorphisms contained in the proof of this result, which we review as follows.

Let $`G=G_l`$ and for an arbitrary fixed $`p`$, $`H=G_{l(a_p)}`$. Let $`A=\mathrm{Ind}_G^H()=\mathrm{Hom}_H(G,)`$ be the $`G`$-module of $`H`$-module homomorphisms from $`G`$ to the trivial $`G`$-module $``$; $`gG`$ acts on $`x\mathrm{Ind}_G^H()`$ via $`(gx)(g_1)=x(g_1g)`$. $`A`$ may be considered the set of functions from $`G`$ to $``$ defined on right cosets of $`H`$ in $`G`$. Define $`\overline{x}(g_1)=x(g_1^1)`$ for $`xA`$. Then $`\overline{x}`$ is defined on left cosets of $`H`$ in $`G`$ and $`\overline{gx}(g_1)=\overline{x}(g^1g_1)`$.

Consider $`B=B(p):=_{p(a)=0}ua\overline{k}(u)^{}`$. We claim that $`A`$ and $`B`$ are isomorphic $`G`$-modules under the map $`\iota :AB`$ given by

$$\iota (x)=\underset{\tau HG/H}{}(u\tau (a_p))^{\overline{x}(\tau )}.$$

To check that $`\iota `$ respects $`G`$-action, we calculate

$`\iota (gx)`$ $`={\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}(u\tau (a_p))^{\overline{gx}(\tau )}={\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}(u\tau (a_p))^{\overline{x}(g^1\tau )}`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{g\tau HG/H}{}}(ug\tau (a_p))^{\overline{x}(\tau )}=g({\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}(u\tau (a_p))^{\overline{x}(\tau )})=g\iota (x).`$
The proof of the Auslander-Brumer-Faddeev theorem proceeds by splitting the $`G_l`$-module $`\overline{k}(u)^{}`$ of $`H^2(G_l,\overline{k}(u)^{})`$ as

(3)
$$\overline{k}(u)^{}=\overline{k}^{}\times u\times \underset{p}{}\underset{p(a)=0}{}ua,$$

and then realizing the summands $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$ and $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))`$ with the isomorphisms

(4)
$$\mathrm{X}(l)=H^1(G_l,/)\stackrel{𝛿}{}H^2(G_l,)\stackrel{\pi ^{}}{}H^2(G_l,u)$$

and

(5)
$$\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))=H^1(H,/)\stackrel{𝛿}{}H^2(H,)\stackrel{sh}{}H^2(G,A)\stackrel{\iota ^{}}{}H^2(G,B).$$

Here $`\delta `$ denotes the standard coboundary map, $`sh`$ the map of Shapiro’s Lemma, and $`\pi :u`$ the homomorphism $`\pi (e)=u^e`$ of trivial $`G_l`$-modules $``$ and $`u`$.

We identify $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))`$ with the decomposition (2) and denote an arbitrary element of this group by $`\beta +\chi _u+\chi _p`$ or $`\beta \chi _u\chi _p`$.

By Lemma 1, since $`s`$ acts triangularly on $`\overline{k}(u)^{}`$ on the factors in (3) and $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}`$ sends $`B(p)`$ to $`B(\stackrel{~}{p})`$, we have

###### Lemma 2.

The map $`s^{}`$ acts triangularly on $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))`$. In particular, for arbitrary $`\beta \chi _u\chi _p\mathrm{Br}(l(u))`$,

(6)
$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill s^{}(\beta \chi _u\chi _p)& =\left(s_{11}^{}(\beta )+s_{u1}^{}(\chi _u)+s_{p1}^{}(\chi _p)\right)\hfill \\ & \left(s_{uu}^{}(\chi _u)+s_{pu}^{}(\chi _p)\right)\hfill \\ & s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}(\chi _p),\hfill \end{array}$$

where we denote the component parts of $`s^{}`$ as follows:

1. $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}:\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))\mathrm{X}(l(a_{\stackrel{~}{p}}))`$;
2. $`s_{pu}^{}:\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))\mathrm{X}(l)`$;
3. $`s_{uu}^{}:\mathrm{X}(l)\mathrm{X}(l)`$;
4. $`s_{p1}^{}:\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))\mathrm{Br}(l)`$;
5. $`s_{u1}^{}:\mathrm{X}(l)\mathrm{Br}(l)`$; and
6. $`s_{11}^{}:\mathrm{Br}(l)\mathrm{Br}(l)`$.

For later use we further define $`s_u^{}=_ps_{pu}^{}`$ and $`s_1^{}=s_{u1}^{}+_ps_{p1}^{}`$.

## 2. Decomposing $`s^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))`$

In this section we study the component functions of $`s^{}`$, comparing them to natural Galois actions on $`\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ and $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$. We denote by $`\sigma `$ the natural Galois action of $`\sigma `$ on $`\mathrm{Br}(l)H^2(G_l,\overline{k}^{})`$ and on $`\mathrm{X}(l)H^1(G_l,/)`$. Note that in $`H^1(G_l,/)`$, $`/`$ is a trivial $`G_k`$-module.

### 2.1. $`s_{11}^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ and $`\mathrm{Br}(l_𝔭)`$

Since $`s`$ acts on $`\overline{k}^{}`$ via $`\sigma `$, the action of $`s_{11}^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ is the natural Galois action:

$$s_{11}^{}(\beta )=\sigma (\beta ),\beta \mathrm{Br}(l).$$

We now determine the action of $`\sigma `$ on the local invariants $`b_𝔭`$ of an element $`b`$ of $`\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ with the following general result.

###### Proposition 1.

Let $`K/k`$ be a finite Galois extension of global fields. Suppose $`gG_{K/k}`$ and $`𝔭`$ be a prime of $`K`$, and let $`b_𝔭`$ denote the local invariant of $`b\mathrm{Br}(K)`$ at $`𝔭`$. Then

(7)
$$(g(b))_𝔭=b_{g^1(𝔭)}.$$

###### Proof.

For an arbitrary field $`K`$, a $`K`$-algebra $`A`$ is an associative ring $`A`$ with unity together with an embedding $`\alpha :KA`$ of $`K`$ into the center of $`A`$. Thus a $`K`$-algebra should be considered a pair $`(A,\alpha )`$. Now let $`(B,\beta )`$ be a second $`K`$-algebra. Then the tensor product

$$(C,\gamma )=(A,\alpha )_K(B,\beta )$$

is generated by elements $`ab`$, $`aA`$, $`bB`$, satisfying $`\alpha (r)ab=a\beta (r)b`$, $`rK`$, and where $`\gamma =\alpha \beta :KC`$ is defined by $`\gamma (r)=\alpha (r)1_B=1_A\beta (r)`$.

Let $`g`$ be an automorphism of $`K`$. An action of $`g`$ on $`(A,\alpha )`$ may be defined by $`(A,\alpha )^g:=(A,\alpha ^g)`$, where $`\alpha ^g(r)=\alpha g(r)`$ for $`rK`$. Note that as rings, $`(A,\alpha )`$ and $`(A,\alpha )^g`$ are isomorphic. It follows that $`\gamma ^g(r)=\gamma g(r)=\alpha g(r)1=1\beta g(r)`$, *i.e.*, $`\alpha ^g(r)1=1\beta ^g(r)`$, so

(8)
$$\gamma ^g=(\alpha \beta )^g=\alpha ^g\beta ^g.$$

We now specialize to the case where $`(A,\alpha )`$ is a finite-dimensional central simple $`K`$-algebra and $`B`$ is a complete discrete valued field $`K_𝔭`$, where $`𝔭`$ will denote the valuation of $`K_𝔭`$ as well as the valuation induced on $`K`$ by the embedding $`\beta `$ of $`K`$ into $`K_𝔭`$. By (8),

$$(\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )^g=\alpha \beta ^g.$$

Note again that, as rings, $`(C,(\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )^g)`$ and $`(C,\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )`$ are isomorphic. Moreover, $`(C,(\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )^g)`$ and $`(C,\alpha \beta ^g)`$ both represent finite-dimensional central simple algebras over complete discrete valued fields.

Now assume the hypotheses of the Proposition. By a lemma of Janusz \[Ja, Lemma, p. 385\], $`(C,(\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )^g)`$ and $`(C,\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )`$ have the same local invariant. It follows that $`(C,\alpha ^{g^1}\beta )`$ and $`(C,\alpha \beta ^g)`$ have the same local invariant. ∎

###### Remark.

In the proof of Janusz’ lemma, the assertion is made that a field isomorphism of $`p`$-adic local fields is an isomorphism of $`p`$-adic local fields, *i.e.*, that prime elements are mapped to prime elements. To prove this statement, the essential idea is the same as in the proof that the only algebraic automorphism of $`_p`$ is the identity. Suppose $`L_i`$, $`i=1,2`$ are finite extensions of $`_p`$ with ramification indices $`e_i`$ and normalized valuations $`v_i`$, $`f:L_1L_2`$ is a field isomorphism, and $`\pi `$ is a prime element of $`L_1`$. Then $`\pi ^{e_1}=pu`$ with $`uL_1`$ a unit. Write $`f(\pi )^{e_1}=f(pu)=f(p)f(u)=pf(u)`$. Now if $`f(u)`$ is a unit in $`L_2`$, we are done: since $`e_1v_2(f(\pi ))=v_2(p)=e_2`$, $`e_1e_2`$ and by symmetry $`e_1=e_2`$ and $`v_2(f(\pi ))=1`$. That $`f`$ maps units to units follows from the fact that the units of a $`p`$-adic field may be characterized algebraically, as the only elements that have $`n`$th roots in the field for infinitely many $`n`$.

### 2.2. $`s_{uu}^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$

###### Proposition 2.

In the decomposition (2),

(9)
$$s_{uu}^{}(\chi )=\sigma (\chi ),\chi \mathrm{X}(l),$$

where $`\sigma `$ denotes the natural Galois action on $`\mathrm{X}(l)=H^1(G_l,/)`$.

###### Proof.

The homomorphism $`s_{uu}^{}`$ acts on a 2-cocycle $`fH^2(G_l,u)`$ by

$$f(g_1,g_2)s_{uu}(f(\sigma ^1g_1\sigma ,\sigma ^1g_2\sigma ))=f(\sigma ^1g_1\sigma ,\sigma ^1g_2\sigma ),$$

since the image of $`f`$ lies in $`u`$ and $`s_{uu}`$ is the inversion map. Now $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$ appears in (2) under the isomorphisms in (4). Using the facts that in the natural Galois actions on $`H^1(G_l,/)`$ and $`H^2(G_l,)`$, the action of $`\sigma `$ on the modules $`/`$ and $``$ is trivial, and that $`\sigma `$ commutes with coboundary maps $`\delta `$ \[NSW, Prop. 1.5.2\], a direct calculation yields

$$\delta ^1(\pi ^{})^1s_{uu}^{}\pi ^{}\delta =\sigma .$$

### 2.3. $`s_{pu}^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))`$

###### Proposition 3.

In the decomposition (2),

(10)
$$s_{pu}^{}(\chi )=\sigma (\mathrm{Cor}_{l(a)/l}(\chi _p)),\chi _p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p)),$$

where $`\sigma `$ denotes the natural Galois action on $`\mathrm{X}(l)=H^1(G_l,/)`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`B=_{p(a)=0}ua`$. The homomorphism $`s_{pu}^{}`$ acts on a 2-cocycle $`fZ^2(G_l,B)`$ by

$$f(g_1,g_2)(s_{u+a,u})(f(\sigma ^1g_1\sigma ,\sigma ^1g_2\sigma )),$$

where for each $`a`$, $`s_{u+a,u}(u+a)=\frac{1}{u}`$. Further let $`\rho :Bu`$ be defined by

$$\rho \left(\underset{p(a)=0}{}(ua)^{e_a}\right)=u^{(_{p(a)=0}e_a)},$$

and let $`\rho ^{}`$ be the induced map $`\rho ^{}:H^2(G_l,B)H^2(G_l,u)`$ of cohomology. Observe that $`s_{pu}=s_{uu}\rho `$, hence $`s_{pu}^{}=s_{uu}^{}\rho ^{}`$.

Keeping the notation for $`G`$, $`H`$, and $`A`$ as in (5), define a $`G`$-module homomorphism $`\nu :A`$ by

$$\nu (x)=\underset{\tau HG/H}{}\tau x(\tau ^1)=\underset{\tau HG/H}{}x(\tau ^1).$$

We calculate

$`\rho (\iota (x))`$ $`=\rho \left({\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}(u\tau (a_p))^{\overline{x}(\tau )}\right)={\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}u^{\overline{x}(\tau )}`$
$`=u^{(_{\tau HG/H}x(\tau ^1))}=\pi \left({\displaystyle \underset{\tau HG/H}{}}x(\tau ^1)\right)=\pi (\nu (x)).`$
Hence we have a commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}H^2(G,A)& \stackrel{\iota ^{}}{}& H^2(G,B)\\ \nu ^{}& & \rho ^{}& & \\ H^2(G,)& \stackrel{\pi ^{}}{}& H^2(G,u)\end{array}$$

Now $`\nu ^{}sh`$ is the corestriction map from $`H^2(G_{l(a_p)},)H^2(G_l,)`$ \[NSW, Prop. 1.6.4\]. Moreover, the coboundary map $`\delta `$ from $`H^1`$ to $`H^2`$ commutes with the corestriction map \[NSW, Prop. 1.5.2\]. Hence under the isomorphisms in (4) and (5),

$`\delta ^1(\pi ^{})^1\rho ^{}\iota ^{}sh\delta `$ $`=\delta ^1\nu ^{}sh\delta `$
$`=\delta ^1(\mathrm{Cor}_{H^2})\delta =\mathrm{Cor}_{H^1}.`$
Therefore in the decomposition (2), $`\rho ^{}`$ is the corestriction map, and since $`s_{pu}^{}=s_{uu}^{}\rho ^{}`$, by (9), $`s_{pu}^{}=\sigma \mathrm{Cor}_{l(a)/l}`$. ∎

### 2.4. $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}`$ on $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))`$

Let $`\mathrm{Cor}:\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))\mathrm{X}(l)`$ be the sum $`\mathrm{Cor}_{l(a_p)/l}`$ of the corestrictions on each summand.

###### Proposition 4.

In the decomposition (2),

(11)
$$\mathrm{Cor}_{l(a_{\stackrel{~}{p}})/l}(s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}(\chi _p))=\sigma (\mathrm{Cor}_{l(a)/l}(\chi _p)),\chi _p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))$$

and if $`p=\stackrel{~}{p}`$, then

(12)
$$s_{pp}^{}(\chi _p)=\stackrel{~}{\sigma }(\chi _p),\chi _p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p)),$$

where $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }=\sigma \tau `$ for a $`\tau G_l`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }(a_p)=c/a_p`$.

If for all $`p`$, $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}(\chi _p)=\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}`$, then

(13)
$$\sigma (\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p)=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p$$

and if additionally $`\chi _u\mathrm{X}(l)`$ such that $`(1+\sigma )\chi _u=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$, then

(14)
$$\sigma (s_1^{}(\chi _u+\chi _p))=s_1^{}(\chi _u+\chi _p).$$

###### Proof.

Equations (11), (13), and (14) each follow from the fact that $`s^{}`$ has order 2. For the first result, let $`\chi _p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))`$ be arbitrary and set $`\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}=s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}(\chi _p)`$. Then by applying (6) twice, we see that the component of $`s^{}(s^{}(\chi _p))=\chi _p`$ in $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$ is

$$s_{uu}^{}s_{pu}^{}(\chi _p)+s_{\stackrel{~}{p}u}^{}(\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}),$$

which, by (9) and (10), is $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p\sigma \mathrm{Cor}\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}`$. Then since this component must be trivial, the first result follows. A similar argument establishes (13) and (14).

For (12), first observe that if $`p=\stackrel{~}{p}`$, then the action $`ac/\sigma (a)`$ permutes the roots of $`p`$. Hence $`c/\sigma (a)=a_p`$ for some root $`a`$. Since $`G_l`$ is transitive on the roots of $`p`$, $`a=\tau (a_p)`$ for some $`\tau G_l`$. Hence $`a_p=c/\sigma \tau (a_p)`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }=\sigma \tau `$.

Keeping the notation for $`G`$, $`H`$, $`A`$, and $`B`$ as in (5), observe that $`s_{pp}^{}`$ acts on $`H^2(G,B)`$ by sending an arbitrary 2-cocycle $`f(g_1,g_2)`$ to

$$s_{pp}(f(\sigma ^1g_1\sigma ,\sigma ^1g_2\sigma )).$$

Now $`\tau ^{}`$ acts on $`H^2(G,B)`$ trivially \[NSW, Prop. 1.6.2\], so $`s_{pp}^{}\tau ^{}=s_{pp}^{}`$. However, direct calculation shows that $`s_{pp}^{}\tau ^{}`$ sends $`f(g_1,g_2)`$ to $`(s_{pp}\tau )(f(\stackrel{~}{\sigma }^1g_1\stackrel{~}{\sigma },\stackrel{~}{\sigma }^1g_2\stackrel{~}{\sigma }))`$, where

$`(s_{pp}\tau )\left({\displaystyle \underset{p(a)=0}{}}(ua)^{e_a}\right)`$ $`={\displaystyle \left(u\frac{c}{\sigma \tau (a)}\right)^{e_a}}`$
$`=(ua_p)^{e_{a_p}}{\displaystyle \underset{aa_p}{}}\left(u{\displaystyle \frac{c}{\sigma \tau (a)}}\right)^{e_a}.`$
Hence $`s_{pp}\tau `$ acts trivially on $`ua_pB`$, and consequently $`\iota ^1(s_{pp}\tau )\iota `$ acts trivially on the values $`x(1)`$, $`xA`$.

Recall that $`(sh)^1`$ is induced by the module map $`A`$ given by $`xx(1)=x(H)`$ \[NSW, Prop. 1.6.3\]; hence $`(sh)^1(\iota ^{})^1s_{pp}^{}\tau ^{}\iota ^{}sh`$ acts on $`H^2(H,)`$ by sending a 2-cocycle $`f(g_1,g_2)`$ to $`f(\stackrel{~}{\sigma }^1g_1\stackrel{~}{\sigma },\stackrel{~}{\sigma }^1g_2\stackrel{~}{\sigma })`$. As a result,

$$\stackrel{~}{\sigma }=sh^1(\iota ^{})^1s_{pp}^{}\iota ^{}sh$$

and since $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$ commutes with coboundary maps \[NSW, Prop. 1.5.2\], $`s_{pp}^{}(\chi _p)=\stackrel{~}{\sigma }(\chi _p)`$. ∎

## 3. The Fixed Subgroup $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))^s^{}`$

### 3.1. Notation

Let $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ denote the fixed subgroup $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))_2^s^{}`$ of $`\mathrm{Br}(l(u))_2`$. By (6) and (13), a direct calculation shows that this group consists of precisely those elements satisfying

1. $`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}\chi _p=\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}`$, $`p`$;
2. $`(1+\sigma )\chi _u=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$; and
3. $`(1\sigma )\beta =s_1^{}(\chi _u+\chi _p)`$.

Let $`\mathrm{X}_u=_p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2`$ and $`\mathrm{X}=\mathrm{X}(l)_2\mathrm{X}_u`$. We further define $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ and $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ as follows:

$`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ $`=\{{\displaystyle \chi _p}\mathrm{X}_u:s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}(\chi _p)=\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}p\};`$
$`\mathrm{X}^G`$ $`=\{\chi =\chi _u+{\displaystyle }\chi _p\mathrm{X}:(1+\sigma )\chi _u=\mathrm{Cor}{\displaystyle }\chi _p,`$
$`s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}\chi _p=\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}}p\}.`$
Now assume that $`k`$, and so also $`l`$, is a number field. Then $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$ is of finite rank \[NSW, Thm. 11.1.2\] and its dual $`\mathrm{Hom}(D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2),/)`$ is a free $`_2`$-module of finite rank. Applying \[CR, Thm. 74.3\] and passing to the dual again, we may then decompose $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$ as

(15)
$$D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)=INP,$$

where each of $`I`$, $`N`$, and $`P`$ is a finite direct sum of $`_2/_2`$ summands and the natural Galois action $`\sigma `$ is trivial on $`I`$, negation on $`N`$, and permutation of pairs of $`_2/_2`$ summands on $`P`$. Then $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma =I{}_{2}{}^{}NP^\sigma `$.

###### Remark.

A sketch of an elementary proof of (15) is as follows. Let $`M`$ be a direct sum of finitely many copies of $`_2/_2`$, and let $`\sigma `$ be an order 2 action on $`M`$. Denote by $`V`$ the $`𝔽_2`$-vector space given by the 2-torsion $`{}_{2}{}^{}M`$ of $`M`$. By linear algebra $`V`$ decomposes into $`V_IV_P\sigma (V_P)`$. Let $`W_1`$ be a complement of $`(V_P+\sigma (V_P))(1+\sigma )M`$ in $`V(1+\sigma )M`$ and $`W_1`$ a complement of $`(V_P+\sigma (V_P))(1\sigma )M`$ in $`V(1\sigma )M`$. Using the fact that $`M=2M=(1+\sigma )M+(1\sigma )M`$, one shows that $`V=V_1V_1V_P\sigma (V_P)`$. Now since $`M`$ is divisible, the homomorphic image $`(1+\sigma )M`$ is divisible; we may therefore construct a divisible tower inside $`(1+\sigma )M`$ over each element of a basis of $`W_1`$. Denote by $`I`$ the subgroup generated by these towers. Similarly denote by $`N`$ the subgroup generated by towers inside $`(1\sigma )M`$ constructed over each element of a basis of $`W_1`$. Finally construct towers over each basis element of $`V_P`$ and let $`P`$ be the subgroup generated by these towers and their $`\sigma `$-conjugates. Observe that a sum $`M_i`$ of subgroups $`M_i`$ of $`M`$ is direct if and only if $`(M_iV)=(M_iV)`$. Moreover, if each $`M_i`$ is divisible and $`dim_{𝔽_2}(M_iV)=dim_{𝔽_2}V`$, then $`M=M_i`$. Hence $`M=INP`$.

Each $`wD(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$ of order 2 represents a cyclic extension of $`l`$ of degree 2 which is fixed under the action of $`\sigma `$. By Kummer theory $`w=l(\sqrt{e})`$ for $`el^{}l^2`$, and since $`w`$ is fixed by $`\sigma `$, $`l(\sqrt{e})`$ is Galois over $`k`$. The group $`G_{l(\sqrt{e})/k}`$ is isomorphic either to $`/4`$ or to $`/2/2`$. One may choose a representative in $`k^{}`$ for the class of $`e`$ in $`l^{}/l^2`$ if and only if $`G_{l(\sqrt{e})/k}/2/2`$. In this case we write $`w=l(\sqrt{e})`$, $`ek^{}k^2`$. We also write that $`w=0`$ satisfies $`w=l(\sqrt{1})`$.

Define $`W`$ to be the exponent 2 subgroup of $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$ consisting of extensions with Klein 4-group over $`k`$, together with the identity element:

$$W=\{wD(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma :|w|2,w=l(\sqrt{e}),ek^{}\}.$$

For an element $`wD(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$, write $`w_I`$ for the component of $`w`$ in $`I`$, and set $`W_I=\{w_II:wW\}`$.

Now define a function $`\lambda `$ from $`W_I`$ to the set of ordinals as follows:

$$\lambda _w=sup\{\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}_u^G}\left(\chi _p\right):\left|\chi _p\right|=2,\left(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p\right)_I=w\}.$$

We will repeatedly use the fact that the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(K)`$ for $`K`$ a number field is less than $`\omega 2`$ \[FS, Thm. 1\], and hence that the Ulm lengths of $`\mathrm{X}_u`$ and $`\mathrm{X}`$ are at most $`\omega 2`$. Here, this result implies that for any $`wW_I`$ we have that $`\lambda _w\omega 2`$ or $`\lambda _w=\mathrm{}`$.

### 3.2. Reducing to $`\mathrm{X}^G`$

###### Proposition 5.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field. Then there exists an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$ if and only if there exists an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$.

###### Lemma 3.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field and that $`\alpha =\beta +\chi \mathrm{B}^G`$ has $`\beta D(\mathrm{Br}(l))`$ and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )i+1`$ for some $`i_0`$. Then $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )i`$.

###### Proof.

We are given that there exists $`\chi _{i+1}\mathrm{X}^G`$ with $`2^{i+1}\chi _{i+1}=\chi `$. Let $`\chi _i=2\chi _{i+1}`$. By specifying the element by invariants at each place $`𝔭`$ of $`l`$, we will construct $`\beta _i\mathrm{Br}(l)`$ such that $`2^i\beta _i=\beta `$ and $`(1\sigma )\beta _i=s_1^{}\chi _i`$. Then $`\alpha _i=\beta _i+\chi _i`$ satisfies $`\alpha _i\mathrm{B}^G`$ and $`2^i\alpha _i=\alpha `$.

Consider places $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ permuted by $`\sigma `$. Let $`x=\beta _{𝔭_1}`$, $`y=\beta _{𝔭_2}`$. Since $`\alpha \mathrm{B}^G`$, $`(1\sigma )\beta =s_1^{}\chi `$. Then, by (7), $`(s_1^{}\chi )_{𝔭_1}=((1\sigma )\beta )_{𝔭_1}=xy`$. Let $`z=(s_1^{}\chi _{i+1})_{𝔭_1}`$. Since $`s_1^{}`$ is a homomorphism, $`2^{i+1}z=xy`$. Set $`(\beta _i)_{𝔭_1}=2z+\frac{1}{2^i}y`$ and $`(\beta _i)_{𝔭_2}=\frac{1}{2^i}y`$. Then $`(2^i\beta _i)_{𝔭_1}=2^{i+1}z+y=xy+y=x`$ and $`(2^i\beta _i)_{𝔭_2}=y`$. Now by (7)

$$((1\sigma )\beta _i)_{𝔭_1}=2z+\frac{1}{2^i}y\frac{1}{2^i}y=2z=(s_1^{}\chi _i)_{𝔭_1}.$$

Moreover, using (7) and, by (14), that $`\sigma (s_1^{}(\chi ))=s_1^{}(\chi )`$ for $`\chi \mathrm{X}^G`$, we obtain

$$((1\sigma )\beta _i)_{𝔭_2}=2z=(s_1^{}\chi _i)_{𝔭_2}.$$

For all pairs $`𝔭_j`$, $`j=1,2`$ considered, then, we have $`(2^i\beta _i)_{𝔭_j}=\beta _{𝔭_j}`$ and $`((1\sigma )\beta _i)_{𝔭_j}=(s_1^{}\chi _i)_{𝔭_j}`$.

Now consider archimedean, inert, or ramified places $`𝔭`$. By (7), for any $`\gamma \mathrm{Br}(l)`$, $`((1\sigma )\gamma )_𝔭=0`$ at each such $`𝔭`$. Moreover, by (14), for any $`\delta \mathrm{X}^G`$, $`\sigma (s_1^{}(\delta ))=s_1^{}(\delta )`$. Hence $`(s_1^{}(\delta ))_𝔭\{0,1/2\}`$. If $`\delta `$ is divisible by $`2`$ in $`\mathrm{X}^G`$, then since $`s_1^{}`$ is a homomorphism we have that $`(s_1^{}(\delta ))_𝔭=0`$ at any such $`𝔭`$. Hence the condition $`((1\sigma )\beta _i)_𝔭=(s_1^{}\chi _i)_𝔭`$ is always satisfied for any choice of $`(\beta _i)_𝔭`$. We choose $`(\beta _i)_𝔭`$ for these $`𝔭`$ as follows.

Since $`\beta D(\mathrm{Br}(l))`$, $`\beta _𝔭=0`$ at any archimedean $`𝔭`$. We define $`(\beta _i)_𝔭=0`$ at all archimedean $`𝔭`$. Now consider the other $`𝔭`$, which are inert or ramified over $`k`$. Let $`𝔮`$ denote some such place with $`\beta _𝔮=0`$. Now for all such $`𝔭𝔮`$, define $`(\beta _i)_𝔭=\frac{1}{2^i}\beta _𝔭`$ at such $`𝔭`$. Then for all these $`𝔭`$ considered, we have $`(2^i\beta _i)_𝔭=\beta _𝔭`$ and $`((1\sigma )\beta _i)_𝔭=(s_1^{}\chi _i)_𝔭`$. Now $`_𝔭\beta _𝔭=_{𝔭𝔮}\beta _𝔭=0`$ since $`\beta _𝔮=0`$. Moreover, $`2^i(\beta _i)_𝔭=\beta _𝔭`$ for all $`𝔭𝔮`$. Hence $`2^i(_{𝔭𝔮}(\beta _i)_𝔭)=0`$. Set $`(\beta _i)_𝔮=_{𝔭𝔮}(\beta _i)_𝔭`$. Then $`2^i(\beta _i)_𝔮=0=\beta _𝔮`$ and $`_𝔭(\beta _i)_𝔭=0`$. Hence $`\{\beta _𝔭\}`$ defines an element of $`\mathrm{Br}(l)_2`$ satisfying $`2^i\beta _i=\beta `$ and $`(1\sigma )\beta _i=s_1^{}\chi _i`$ and we are done. ∎

###### Lemma 4.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field, and let $`\alpha =\beta +\chi \mathrm{B}^G`$. Suppose that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )>0`$. Then $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )1\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$.

###### Proof.

By projection from $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ to $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ we see that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$.

Suppose that $`h=\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$ lies in $``$. Since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )>0`$, $`\beta _𝔭=0`$ at all archimedean $`𝔭`$ and $`\beta D(\mathrm{Br}(l))`$. By Lemma 3, $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )1.`$ Now suppose that $`h=\omega `$. In this case Lemma 3 shows that in fact $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )=\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi ).`$ Since the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ is less than or equal to $`\omega 2`$ \[FS, Thm. 1\], we are left with the cases $`h=\omega +n`$ for some $`n`$, $`h=\omega 2`$, and $`h=\mathrm{}`$.

For each $`i1`$ such that $`h\omega +i`$ we do the following. Let $`\chi _i\mathrm{X}^G`$ be such that $`2^i\chi _i=\chi `$ and for each $`j`$ let $`\delta _j\mathrm{X}^G`$ satisfy $`2^j\delta _j=\chi _i`$. The proof of Lemma 3 shows that we may find $`\beta _{i1}`$ such that $`\alpha _{i1}=\beta _{i1}+\chi _{i1}\mathrm{B}^G`$ and $`2^{i1}\alpha _{i1}=\alpha `$. By construction $`(\beta _{i1})_𝔭=0`$ at all archimedean $`𝔭`$, and so $`\beta _{i1}D(\mathrm{Br}(l))`$. Now $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi _{i1})\omega `$, and hence we may apply Lemma 3 again to show that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha _{i1})\omega `$. Hence $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\omega +(i1)`$. If $`h=\omega +n`$ for some $`n`$, we have that $`\omega +(n1)=\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )1\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )`$. If $`h=\omega 2`$, we have shown that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )=\omega 2`$. A similar argument handles the case $`h=\mathrm{}`$, where $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )=\mathrm{}`$ as well. ∎

###### Lemma 5.

Suppose that $`k`$ is a number field, $`\chi \mathrm{X}^G`$, and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )>1`$. Then there exists $`\alpha =\beta +\chi \mathrm{B}^G`$ such that $`|\alpha |=|\chi |`$ and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )1\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$.

###### Proof.

Since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )>1`$, $`\chi =4ϵ`$ for some $`ϵ\mathrm{X}^G`$. Let $`\delta =2ϵ`$ and $`\gamma ^{}=s_1^{}(\delta )`$. Since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\delta )>0`$, $`\gamma _𝔭^{}=0`$ at each archimedean place $`𝔭`$ of $`l`$. Similarly, since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\delta )>0`$ and since by (14) the image $`s_1^{}(\mathrm{X}^G)`$ is $`\sigma `$-negated, we have that $`\gamma _𝔭^{}=0`$ at every inert or ramified place $`𝔭`$ of $`l`$, and, by (7), that at every pair $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ of $`\sigma `$-permuted places of $`l`$, $`\gamma _{𝔭_1}^{}=\gamma _{𝔭_2}^{}`$ as well.

We will define a $`\gamma \mathrm{Br}(l)_2`$ via its invariants. Let $`\gamma _𝔭=0`$ at every archimedean place of $`l`$. For every pair $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ of $`\sigma `$-permuted places of $`l`$, let $`\gamma _{𝔭_1}=\gamma _{𝔭_1}^{}`$ and $`\gamma _{𝔭_2}=0.`$ Now there are only finitely many such pairs $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ at which $`\gamma ^{}`$ has nontrivial invariants. For each such pair $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ choose an inert or ramified place $`𝔮`$ of $`l`$ and set $`\gamma _𝔮=\gamma _{𝔭_1}`$. At all other inert or ramified places $`𝔮`$ set $`\gamma _𝔮=0`$.

By construction $`_𝔭\gamma _𝔭=0`$, so there exists a $`\gamma \mathrm{Br}(l)_2`$ with invariants $`\{\gamma _𝔭\}`$. Furthermore, $`((1\sigma )\gamma )_𝔭=0`$ at all inert, ramified, or archimedean places $`𝔭`$ by (7). At pairs $`𝔭_1,𝔭_2`$ of $`\sigma `$-permuted places, we have

$$((1\sigma )\gamma )_{𝔭_1}=\gamma _{𝔭_1}^{}=\gamma _{𝔭_2}^{}=((1\sigma )\gamma )_{𝔭_2}.$$

Hence $`(1\sigma )\gamma =2(1\sigma )\gamma ^{}=2s_1^{}(\delta )=s_1^{}(2\delta )=s_1^{}\chi `$ and $`\gamma +\delta \mathrm{B}^G`$. Since the invariants of $`\gamma `$ are either 0 or equal to a corresponding invariant of $`\gamma ^{}`$, which is a homomorphic image of $`\delta `$, $`|\gamma ||\delta |`$, and hence $`|\gamma +\delta |=|\delta |`$. Setting $`\beta =2\gamma `$ and $`\alpha =2(\gamma +\delta )=\beta +\chi `$, we then have $`|\alpha |=|\chi |`$. Moreover, $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )>0`$ since $`\alpha =2(\gamma +\delta )`$. Using Lemma 4, we have that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )1\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$. ∎

###### Proof of Proposition 5.

($``$) Let $`\alpha =\beta +\chi `$ be an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )=\omega 2`$. By restriction, we have that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )`$. Since the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}`$ is at most $`\omega 2`$ \[FS, Thm. 1\], we have that $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )\{\omega 2,\mathrm{}\}`$.

Suppose that $`\chi D(\mathrm{X}^G)`$. By Lemma 5, there exists $`\beta ^{}\mathrm{Br}(l)_2`$ such that $`\alpha ^{}=\beta ^{}+\chi \mathrm{B}^G`$, $`|\alpha ^{}|=|\chi |`$, and $`\alpha ^{}D(\mathrm{B}^G)`$. But then $`\gamma =\alpha \alpha ^{}=\beta \beta ^{}\mathrm{B}^G`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\gamma )=\omega 2`$. Now an element $`b\mathrm{Br}(l)_2`$ lies in $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ if and only if $`(1\sigma )b=0`$. But $`\mathrm{Br}(l)_2^\sigma `$ consists, by (7), of a restricted direct sum of $`/2`$ and $`_2/_2`$ summands. Therefore there is no element in $`\mathrm{Br}(l)_2\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$ and we have a contradiction. Therefore $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )=\omega 2`$.

($``$) Now suppose that $`\chi \mathrm{X}^G`$ is an order 2 element of height $`\omega 2`$. By Lemma 5, there exists a $`\beta \mathrm{Br}(l)`$ such that $`\alpha =\beta +\chi \mathrm{B}^G`$ is of order 2 and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{B}^G}(\alpha )=\omega 2`$, and we are done. ∎

### 3.3. Reducing to $`\lambda `$

###### Proposition 6.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field. Then there exists an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$ if and only if $`\lambda _w=\omega 2`$ for some nontrivial $`wW_I`$.

###### Lemma 6.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field and $`\chi _p\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ is an order 2 element with height greater than the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$. Then $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _pW`$.

###### Proof.

If $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p=0`$, then $`0W`$ and we are done.

Otherwise, let $`w=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$. The order of $`w`$ is 2, and, since by (13) $`\mathrm{Cor}`$ is a homomorphism from $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ to the $`\sigma `$-invariant subgroup of $`\mathrm{X}(l)`$, $`wD(\mathrm{X}(l)_2^\sigma )D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$. Hence $`wI{}_{2}{}^{}NP^\sigma `$.

Consider $`p\stackrel{~}{p}`$ for which $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is not trivial. By (11),

$$\mathrm{Cor}(\chi _p+\chi _{\stackrel{~}{p}})=\mathrm{Cor}(\chi _p+s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}(\chi _p))=(1+\sigma )\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p.$$

Now $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is an element of order at most two in $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$, therefore represented by $`l(\sqrt{e})`$ for $`el^{}`$. Then $`(1+\sigma )\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is represented by $`l(\sqrt{N_{l/k}(e)})`$. Set $`z_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}=N_{l/k}(e)`$.

Now consider $`p=\stackrel{~}{p}`$ for which $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is not trivial. Then as in the proof of (12), there exists a $`\tau G_l`$ such that $`a_p=c/\sigma \tau (a_p)`$ and we let $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }=\sigma \tau `$. Then $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$ is an automorphism of $`l(a_p)`$ of order 2 with fixed field $`k_p:=k(a_p+c/a_p)`$.

We claim that $`[k_p:k]`$ is even. Since $`\sqrt{d}k_p`$ and $`[l(a_p):k_p]=2`$, $`l(a_p)=k_p(\sqrt{d})`$. Then $`a_pl(a_p)`$ satisfies $`N_{l(a_p)/k_p}a_p=c`$, so the quaternion algebra $`(c,d)`$ splits over $`k_p`$. But then $`[k_p:k]`$ is even.

Since $`\chi _p\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))`$ is of order 2, it is represented by $`l(a_p)(\sqrt{f})`$, where $`f`$ is determined up to its class in $`l(a_p)^{}/l(a_p)^2`$. Moreover, since $`s_{pp}^{}(\chi _p)=\chi _p`$, by (12), $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }(\chi _p)=\chi _p`$, or $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }(f)=f`$ in $`l(a_p)^{}/l(a_p)^2`$. Hence $`N_{l(a_p)/k_p}(f)l(a_p)^2`$. By Kummer theory, $`(k_p^{}l(a_p)^2)/k_p^2`$ consists only of the classes $`1`$ and $`d`$. Therefore, modulo $`k_p^2`$, $`N_{l(a_p)/k_p}(f)`$ is either $`1`$ or $`d`$.

Now $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is represented by $`l(\sqrt{e})`$, where $`e=N_{l(a_p)/l}(f)`$, and then $`N_{l/k}(e)=N_{k_p/k}N_{l(a_p)/k_p}(f)`$. Since $`N_{l(a_p)/k_p}(f)`$ is $`1`$ or $`d`$ mod $`k_p^2`$ and $`N_{k_p/k}(dz^2)=d^{[k_p:k]}N_{k_p/k}(z)^2k^2`$, we deduce that $`N_{l/k}(e)`$ is a square in $`k^{}`$. Then, from the square-class exact sequence (\[La, Thm. 3.4\])

$$1dk_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^{}/k_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}l^{}/l_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}\stackrel{N_{l/k}}{}k^{}/k_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}$$

we have that, up to squares in $`l^{}`$, $`e`$ is represented by an element of $`k^{}`$. Set $`z_{pp}`$ to be this value.

For all remaining $`p`$, set $`z_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}=1`$.

Now $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is represented by $`l(\sqrt{e})`$, where $`e`$ is the product in $`l^{}`$ of $`z_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}`$ for all $`\{p,\stackrel{~}{p}\}`$. Hence $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p`$ is an element of order at most 2 represented by $`l(\sqrt{e})`$, where $`e`$ is a product of elements from $`k`$. ∎

###### Lemma 7.

Suppose $`k`$ is a number field and $`\chi \mathrm{X}^G`$ is an order 2 element with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )=\omega 2`$. Then there exists $`\widehat{\chi }D(\mathrm{X}^G)`$ with $`|\widehat{\chi }|=2`$ such that $`w=\chi \widehat{\chi }W_I`$ is nontrivial and $`\lambda _w=\omega 2`$.

###### Proof.

Write $`\chi =\chi _u+\chi _u`$ with $`\chi _u=\chi _p`$. Since for each $`p`$ the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2`$ is $`\omega +n`$ for some $`n_0`$ \[FS, Thm. 1\] and since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )=\omega 2`$, we have $`\chi _uD(\mathrm{X}_u)`$. For each summand $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2`$ with $`p=\stackrel{~}{p}`$, and for each pair of summands $`\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2\mathrm{X}(l(a_{\stackrel{~}{p}}))_2`$ for $`p\stackrel{~}{p}`$, the divisible subgroup is a finite direct sum of $`_2/_2`$ components \[NSW, Thm. 11.1.2\].

The fixed subgroup of an order 2 action on a finite direct sum of $`_2/_2`$ components is a direct sum of $`/2`$ and $`_2/_2`$ components. Hence for $`\stackrel{~}{p}=p`$ the $`s_{pp}^{}`$-fixed subgroup of $`D(\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2)`$, and when $`\stackrel{~}{p}p`$, the $`(s_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}+s_{\stackrel{~}{p}p})^{}`$-fixed subgroup of $`D(\mathrm{X}(l(a_p))_2\mathrm{X}(l(a_{\stackrel{~}{p}}))_2)`$, is a direct sum of $`/2`$ and $`_2/_2`$ components. Since $`\chi _u2\mathrm{X}_u^G`$, in each summand or pair of summands, then, the components of $`\chi _u`$ lie in the divisible part of the $`_ps_{p\stackrel{~}{p}}^{}`$-fixed subgroup. Hence $`\chi _uD(\mathrm{X}_u^G)`$. For each $`p`$, let $`\{\chi _p^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}`$ be a divisible tower over $`\chi _p`$, so that $`\{\chi _p^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}X_u^G`$ is a divisible tower over $`\chi _u`$.

Since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi )=\omega 2`$ and the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$ is $`\omega +n`$ for some $`n_0`$, $`\chi _uD(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$. Following the decomposition of $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$ in (15), write $`\chi _u=w_I+w_N+w_P`$.

For each pair $`_2/_2_2/_2`$ of $`\sigma `$-permuted summands in $`P`$, denote the components of $`zP`$ in these summands by $`z_s`$ and $`z_t`$. Define

$$(w_P^{(i)})_s=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_s\frac{1}{2^i}(w_P)_t$$

and $`(w_P^{(i)})_t=\frac{1}{2^i}(w_P)_t`$. (We denote by $`(1/2^i)(w_P)_t`$ some element yielding $`(w_P)_t`$ under multiplication by $`2^i`$, and we fix this element for the duration.) Then $`|w_P^{(i)}|2^{i+1}`$ and $`\{w_P^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}`$ is a divisible tower over $`w_P^{(0)}=w_P`$ since $`(1+\sigma )w_P=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p)_P`$ implies $`((1+\sigma )w_P)_s=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p)_s`$ and $`(w_P)_s=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p)_s(w_P)_t`$.

Now

$$((1+\sigma )w_P^{(i)})_s=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_s=((1+\sigma )w_P^{(i)})_t.$$

Furthermore, by (13) the image of $`\mathrm{Cor}`$ on the divisible tower $`\{\chi _p^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}`$ over $`\chi _u=\chi _p`$ lies in the $`\sigma `$-invariant part of $`P`$, hence with components lying in the diagonals of the pairs $`_2/_2_2/_2`$. Hence $`((1+\sigma )w_P^{(i)})_t=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_t`$ as well.

Since $`N`$ is divisible, we may choose a divisible tower $`\{w_N^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}N`$ over $`w_N`$. Now $`(1+\sigma )w_N^{(i)}=0`$ since $`\sigma `$ acts by negation on $`N`$. Furthermore, by (13) the image of $`\mathrm{Cor}`$ on the divisible tower over $`\chi _u`$ lies in $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$ and is $`\sigma `$-invariant, hence has zero component in $`N`$. Hence $`(1+\sigma )(w_N^{(i)}+w_P^{(i)})=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_{NP}`$.

Finally set $`\widehat{w}_I^{(i)}=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i+1)})_I`$. Then since $`\sigma `$ is invariant on $`I`$,

$$(1+\sigma )(\widehat{w}_I^{(i)})=2\widehat{w}_I^{(i)}=2(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i+1)})_I=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_I.$$

Moreover, $`\{\widehat{w}_I^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}`$ is a divisible tower over $`\widehat{w}_I:=\widehat{w}_I^{(0)}`$. Note that $`\widehat{w}_I`$ has order at most 2 because $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p)_I=((1+\sigma )\chi _u)_I=(1+\sigma )w_I=0`$ since $`\chi \mathrm{X}^G`$ and $`w_I`$ is of order 2.

Let $`\widehat{\chi }_u^{(i)}=\widehat{w}_I^{(i)}+w_N^{(i)}+w_P^{(i)}`$ and $`\widehat{\chi }^{(i)}=\widehat{\chi }_u^{(i)}+\chi _p^{(i)}`$. Then $`\{\widehat{\chi }^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{X}^G`$ is a divisible tower over $`\widehat{\chi }:=\widehat{\chi }_u^{(0)}+\chi _p`$. Clearly $`w:=\chi \widehat{\chi }=w_I\widehat{w}_II`$ and $`|w|2`$. If $`w=0`$ then $`\chi =\widehat{\chi }`$ and we have a contradiction: $`\chi D(\mathrm{X}^G)`$. Hence $`|w|=2`$ and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(w)=\omega 2`$.

Now since $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(w)=\omega 2`$, for any $`n`$ there exists a $`\chi ^{}\mathrm{X}^G`$ of height $`\omega +n`$ and $`w=2\chi ^{}`$. We restrict $`\omega +n`$ to ordinals greater than the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$. Write $`\chi ^{}=\chi _u^{}+\chi _p^{}`$. Then $`\chi _u^{}D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$. Moreover, $`(1+\sigma )\chi _u^{}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{}`$. Now $`|\chi _p^{}|`$ is at most 2 since $`w=2\chi ^{}`$ has no component in $`\mathrm{X}_u`$. If the order is 2, then by Lemma 6, $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{}`$ lies in $`W`$; if the order is 1, then $`\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{}=0W`$.

Since $`\chi _u^{}D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$, write $`\chi _u^{}=\chi _I^{}+\chi _N^{}+\chi _P^{}`$ according to (15). Since $`2\chi ^{}=wI`$, $`\chi _N^{}`$ and $`\chi _P^{}`$ are of order at most 2. Hence $`(1+\sigma )\chi _I^{}=2\chi _I^{}=w_I=w`$ and $`(1+\sigma )\chi _N^{}=2\chi _N^{}=0`$. Therefore $`(1+\sigma )\chi _u^{}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{}=w+(1+\sigma )\chi _P^{}W`$. Therefore $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{})_I=w`$, and $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}_u^G}(\chi _p^{})\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\chi ^{})=\omega +n`$. Hence, by considering $`\chi _p^{}`$ instead of $`\chi _p^{}`$, we have $`\lambda _w\omega 2`$.

Now suppose that $`\lambda _w=\mathrm{}`$. Then since the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ is at most $`\omega 2`$ \[FS, Thm. 1\], there exists $`\chi _u=\chi _p\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ of order at most 2 with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}_u^G}(\chi _u)=\mathrm{}`$ and $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u)_I=w`$. Let $`\{\chi _p^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ be a divisible tower over $`\chi _u`$. Now let $`\widehat{P}`$ be a finite direct sum of $`_2/_2`$ summands in $`P`$ such that $`\widehat{P}\sigma (\widehat{P})=P`$. For each $`i1`$, set $`\chi _u^{(i)}=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i+1)})_I+(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_{\widehat{P}}`$. Then

$$((1+\sigma )(\chi _u^{(i)}))_I=2(\chi _u^{(i)})_I=(2\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i+1)})_I=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_I,$$

and

$$((1+\sigma )(\chi _u^{(i)}))_{\widehat{P}}=(\chi _u^{(i)})_{\widehat{P}}=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _p^{(i)})_{\widehat{P}}.$$

Moreover, since by (13) the image of $`\mathrm{Cor}`$ is $`\sigma `$-invariant on $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$, the equality holds over $`\sigma (\widehat{P})`$ as well, and holds over $`N`$ since both sides must be trivial on $`N`$. Then for $`i0`$, $`\chi _u^{(i)}+\chi _p^{(i)}\mathrm{X}^G`$. Now

$`2\chi _u^{(0)}`$ $`=2((\mathrm{Cor}{\displaystyle \chi _p^{(1)}})_I+(\mathrm{Cor}{\displaystyle \chi _p^{(0)}})_{\widehat{P}})`$
$`=(\mathrm{Cor}{\displaystyle \chi _p^{(0)}})_I=w.`$
Since $`|w|2`$, $`w=w`$. Let $`\chi _0^{}=w`$ and for $`i1`$, $`\chi _i^{}=\chi _u^{(i1)}+\chi _p^{(i1)}`$. Then $`2\chi _1^{}=w`$ and $`\{\chi _i^{}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{X}^G`$ is a divisible tower over $`w`$, so $`wD(\mathrm{X}^G)`$. But then $`\chi =w+\widehat{\chi }D(\mathrm{X}^G)`$, a contradiction. ∎

###### Proof of Proposition 6.

($``$) By Proposition 5, if there is an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$, then there is an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$. By Lemma 7, there exists a nontrivial $`wW_I`$ with $`\lambda _w=\omega 2`$.

($``$) Suppose that $`\lambda _w=\omega 2`$ for some nontrivial $`wW_I`$. We claim that there is an order 2 element $`\widehat{w}`$ in $`\mathrm{X}^G`$ with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\widehat{w})=\omega 2`$.

Since $`\lambda _w=\omega 2`$, for each ordinal $`\omega +i`$ greater than the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$ there exists an element $`\chi _u=\chi _p\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}_u^G}(\chi _u)=\omega +i`$ and $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u)_I=w=w`$.

For each such ordinal $`\omega +i`$, we proceed as follows. Let $`\chi _u^{(i)}\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ be an element such that $`2^i\chi _u^{(i)}=\chi _u`$ and for each $`j`$ let $`\delta _u^{(j)}\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ satisfy $`2^j\delta _u^{(j)}=\chi _u^{(i)}`$. Now set $`\chi _u^{(i)}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u^{(i)}`$ and $`\chi ^{(i)}=\chi _u^{(i)}+\chi _u^{(i1)}`$. Then since by (13) the image of $`\mathrm{Cor}`$ on $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ is $`\sigma `$-invariant,

$$(1+\sigma )\chi _u^{(i)}=2\chi _u^{(i)}=2\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u^{(i)}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u^{(i1)}$$

and we have $`\chi ^{(i)}\mathrm{X}^G`$. Moreover, $`2^i\chi ^{(i)}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u`$ with $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u)_I=w`$. Continuing on, for each $`j2`$, set $`\delta _u^{(j)}=\mathrm{Cor}\delta _u^{(j)}`$ and $`\delta ^{(j)}=\delta _u^{(j)}+2\delta _u^{(j)}`$; for $`j=1`$ set $`\delta _u^{(1)}=\mathrm{Cor}\delta _u^{(1)}`$ and $`\delta ^{(1)}=\delta _u^{(1)}+\chi _u^{(i)}`$. Then $`2^j\delta ^{(j)}=\chi ^{(i)}`$ and as before, $`\delta ^{(j)}\mathrm{X}^G`$ for each $`j`$. Hence we have shown that $`w^{}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u`$ is an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{X}(l)^\sigma `$ with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(w^{})\omega +i`$ and $`w_I^{}=w`$. In fact, because the height is greater than the Ulm length of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$, $`w^{}D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$.

Hence for every $`\omega +i`$ we have produced an order 2 element $`w_i^{}D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$ which satisfies $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(w_i^{})\omega +i`$ and $`(w_i^{})_I=w`$. Now the divisible subgroup of $`\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$ is a finite direct sum of $`_2/_2`$ summands \[NSW, Thm. 11.1.2\], and hence its exponent 2 subgroup is finite. Hence for some $`\widehat{w}D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)^\sigma `$, $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\widehat{w})\omega +i_n`$ for an unbounded strictly increasing $`\{i_n\}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}`$ of natural numbers. Therefore there exists a $`\widehat{w}`$ of order 2 in $`D(\mathrm{X}(l))^\sigma \mathrm{X}^G`$ with $`\mathrm{ht}_{\mathrm{X}^G}(\widehat{w})\omega 2`$ and $`\widehat{w}_I=w`$.

Now suppose that $`\widehat{w}`$ is divisible in $`\mathrm{X}^G`$. Let $`\{\chi ^{(i)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{X}^G`$ be a divisible tower over $`\widehat{w}`$. Write $`\chi ^{(i)}=\chi _u^{(i)}+\chi _u^{(i)}`$ for each $`i`$, and consider $`\chi ^{}=\chi _u^{(1)}`$, necessarily of order less than or equal to 2 since $`\chi _u^{(0)}=0`$ because $`\widehat{w}\mathrm{X}(l)_2`$. Then $`\{\chi _u^{(i+1)}\}_{i=0}^{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ is a divisible tower over $`\chi ^{}`$. Since $`\chi ^{(1)}\mathrm{X}^G`$, we have that $`(1+\sigma )\chi _u^{(1)}=\mathrm{Cor}\chi _u^{(1)}`$. Restricting the equation to $`I`$, we have $`(\chi _u^{(0)})_I=(\mathrm{Cor}\chi ^{})_I`$, and the left hand side is in fact $`(\widehat{w})_I=w`$. Hence $`\chi ^{}`$ is an order 2 element in $`\mathrm{X}_u^G`$ with $`(\mathrm{Cor}\chi ^{})_I=w`$; we have then that $`\lambda _w=\mathrm{}`$, a contradiction. ∎

## 4. Proof of Main Theorem

###### Proof.

We show that any order two element $`\alpha `$ in $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ of height at least $`\omega 2`$ is divisible.

Suppose $`\alpha `$ is an order two element in $`\mathrm{Br}(E)=H^2(G_k,\overline{k}(u)^{})`$ of height at least $`\omega 2`$. Then the image $`\varphi (\alpha )`$ of $`\alpha `$ in (1) is an element of $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height at least $`\omega 2`$.

Since the Leopoldt conjecture holds for $`l`$ and $`2`$, there is only one $`_2`$-extension of $`l`$. Since $`l`$ is the quadratic subextension of $`k^{cyc}/k`$, the $`_2`$-extension of $`l`$ is precisely $`k^{cyc}`$. Hence $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)_2/_2`$ and $`\sigma `$ acts trivially on $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$. In the decomposition of $`D(\mathrm{X}(l)_2)`$ in (15), $`N=P=0`$ and $`I_2/_2`$. But since the quadratic subextension of $`k^{cyc}/l`$ is cyclic of order 4 over $`k`$, $`W=0`$. Hence by Proposition 6, there exists no order 2 element of $`\mathrm{B}^G`$ of height $`\omega 2`$. Hence $`\varphi (\alpha )`$ is divisible.

If $`\varphi (\alpha )0`$ and $`\{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i\}`$ is a divisible tower over $`\varphi (\alpha )`$, then we may find preimages $`\alpha _n\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ such that $`\varphi (\alpha _n)=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_n`$ and $`2^m\alpha _n=\alpha _{nm}`$, as follows. Let $`\alpha _n=2\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1})`$. Since the kernel of $`\varphi `$ is the relative Brauer group $`\mathrm{Br}(El/E)`$ and is therefore of exponent 2, this map is well-defined. We calculate

$$\varphi (\alpha _n)=\varphi (2\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1}))=2\varphi (\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1}))=2\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1}=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_n$$

and

$`2^m\alpha _n`$ $`=2^m2\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1})=22^m\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1})`$
$`=2\varphi ^1(2^m\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{n+1})=2\varphi ^1(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{nm+1})=\alpha _{nm}.`$
Hence $`\{\alpha _n\}`$ is a divisible tower over $`\alpha `$ and $`\alpha `$ is a divisible element of $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$.

If $`\varphi (\alpha )=0`$, $`\alpha `$ lies in the kernel of $`\varphi `$ and so is split by base change to $`El=l(u)`$. Hence $`\alpha `$ is represented by the class of a central simple algebra with $`E(\sqrt{d})/E`$ as a maximal subfield. Suppose that $`\alpha =ϵ_1`$ for a quaternion algebra $`ϵ_1=(d,e)_E`$ with $`eE^\times `$. Now since $`k^{cyc}`$ and $`E`$ are linearly disjoint over $`k`$, $`k^{cyc}E`$ is a $`_2`$-extension of $`E`$ containing $`El`$. Let $`k_n^{cyc}E`$ be the $`/2^n`$ layer of $`k^{cyc}E/E`$, and choose generators $`\sigma _nG_{k_n^{cyc}E/E}`$ satisfying $`\sigma _n|_{k_{n1}^{cyc}E}=\sigma _{n1}`$. Then the cyclic algebras $`ϵ_n=(k_n^{cyc}E/E,\sigma _n,e)`$ are each of order $`2^n`$ in $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ and, moreover, $`2^mϵ_n=ϵ_{nm}`$. Hence $`\alpha `$ is divisible in $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$.

We have shown that $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(E))=0`$. By \[FSS1\] and \[FSS2\], $`U_2(\omega 2,\mathrm{Br}(k(t)))=0`$ and all other Ulm invariants of $`\mathrm{Br}(E)`$ and $`\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$ are identical. Therefore $`\mathrm{Br}(E)\mathrm{Br}(k(t))`$. ∎

## Acknowledgments

The second author thanks the Department of Mathematics at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology for its hospitality during 1998–1999.