Realization of symmetric \(\mathbb Z\)-bilinear forms as scaled Hermitian trace forms (Q5939693)

Given a nondegenerate symmetric \(\mathbb Z\)-bilinear form of even rank, not \(\mathbb Q\)-isomorphic to the hyperbolic plane, the author shows that there is an algebraic integer \(\alpha\) such that the form can be seen as a scaled Hermitian trace form (Tr\(_{\mathbb Q(\alpha)/\mathbb Q}(\lambda v_i v_j^\sigma)\)) of the algebra \(\mathbb Z[\alpha]\). The proof is by explicit construction. This is inspired by a result of \textit{M. Krüskemper} [Algebraic construction of bilinear forms over \(\mathbb Z\), Publ. Math. Besançon, Théorie des nombres, Années 1996/97-1997/98, 4 p. (1999)] who showed that every nondegenerate symmetric \(\mathbb Z\)-bilinear form can be realized as a scaled trace form for some algebra \(\mathbb Z[\alpha]\). The author gives an explicit method to find \(\alpha\), the involution \(\sigma\) on \(\mathbb Z[\alpha]\), the appropriate bases \(\{v_i\}, \{v_i'\}\) and the scaling factor \(\lambda\). He illustrates his method by applying it to the lattice \(\mathbb A_4\).