Weak isotropy of central simple algebras with orthogonal involutions over totally positive field extensions

Abstract: In this paper, we explore the behavior of orthogonal involutions in the context of totally positive field extensions. Let $K/F$ be a totally positive extension of formally real fields. By Becher's result, if a quadratic form $q$ over $F$ becomes isotropic over $K$, then $q$ is weakly isotropic over $F$. We present an example in which, despite $K/F$ being totally positive, a central simple algebra $(A,\sigma)$ over $F$ with an orthogonal involution becomes isotropic over $K$, while remaining strongly isotropic over $F$. However, when $K/F$ is assumed to be a Galois totally positive $2$-extension of formally real fields, we show that an analogue of Becher's result for quadratic forms holds for orthogonal involutions. Furthermore, for a totally positive Galois field extension $K/F$, we verify Becher's conjecture for central division algebras of index $2^n$ and exponent $2$ containing a subfield of $F_{py}$ of degree $2^{n-2}$ over $F$.