English

Sets, groups, and fields definable in vector spaces with a bilinear form

Logic 2023-11-14 v2 Group Theory

Abstract

We study definable sets, groups, and fields in the theory TT_\infty of infinite-dimensional vector spaces over an algebraically closed field equipped with a nondegenerate symmetric (or alternating) bilinear form. First, we define an (N×Z,lex\mathbb{N}\times \mathbb{Z},\leq_{lex})-valued dimension on definable sets in TT_\infty enjoying many properties of Morley rank in strongly minimal theories. Then, using this dimension notion as the main tool, we prove that all groups definable in TT_\infty are (algebraic-by-abelian)-by-algebraic, which, in particular, answers a question of Granger. We conclude that every infinite field definable in TT_\infty is definably isomorphic to the field of scalars of the vector space. We derive some other consequences of good behaviour of the dimension in TT_\infty, e.g. every generic type in any definable set is a definable type; every set is an extension base; every definable group has a definable connected component. We also consider the theory TRCFT^{RCF}_\infty of vector spaces over a real closed field equipped with a nondegenerate alternating bilinear form or a nondegenerate symmetric positive-definite bilinear form. Using the same construction as in the case of TT_\infty, we define a dimension on sets definable in TRCFT^{RCF}_\infty, and using it we prove analogous results about definable groups and fields: every group definable in TRCFT^{RCF}_{\infty} is (semialgebraic-by-abelian)-by-semialgebraic (in particular, it is (Lie-by-abelian)-by-Lie), and every field definable in TRCFT^{RCF}_{\infty} is definable in the field of scalars, hence it is either real closed or algebraically closed.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2004.07238,
  title  = {Sets, groups, and fields definable in vector spaces with a bilinear form},
  author = {Jan Dobrowolski},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.07238},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

v2: The particular bounds on dimension obtained in Section 3 were corrected, and a number of minor corrections has been made throughout the paper

R2 v1 2026-06-23T14:52:40.943Z