Albert algebras over Z and other rings

Albert algebras, a specific kind of Jordan algebra, are naturally distinguished objects among commutative non-associative algebras and also arise naturally in the context of simple affine group schemes of type $F_4$, $E_6$, or $E_7$. We study these objects over an arbitrary base ring $R$, with particular attention to the case of the integers. We prove in this generality results previously in the literature in the special case where $R$ is a field of characteristic different from 2 and 3.Comment: v2: section 12 on number of generators is new, Theorem 13.5 now holds for semi-local rings (and even a somewhat wider class

Wild Pfister forms over Henselian fields, K-theory, and conic division algebras

The epicenter of this paper concerns Pfister quadratic forms over a field $F$ with a Henselian discrete valuation. All characteristics are considered but we focus on the most complicated case where the residue field has characteristic 2 but $F$ does not. We also prove results about round quadratic forms, composition algebras, generalizations of composition algebras we call conic algebras, and central simple associative symbol algebras. Finally we give relationships between these objects and Kato's filtration on the Milnor $K$-groups of $F$

Wigner's Dynamical Transition State Theory in Phase Space: Classical and Quantum

A quantum version of transition state theory based on a quantum normal form (QNF) expansion about a saddle-centre-...-centre equilibrium point is presented. A general algorithm is provided which allows one to explictly compute QNF to any desired order. This leads to an efficient procedure to compute quantum reaction rates and the associated Gamov-Siegert resonances. In the classical limit the QNF reduces to the classical normal form which leads to the recently developed phase space realisation of Wigner's transition state theory. It is shown that the phase space structures that govern the classical reaction d ynamicsform a skeleton for the quantum scattering and resonance wavefunctions which can also be computed from the QNF. Several examples are worked out explicitly to illustrate the efficiency of the procedure presented.Comment: 132 pages, 31 figures, corrected version, Nonlinearity, 21 (2008) R1-R11