Let $K$ be a field, let $L$ be a field containing $K$, and let $G$ be a reductive group over $K$. Does there always exist a torus $T$ of $G$ so that $T_{/L}$ is a maximal split torus of $G_{/L}$? If such a torus does not exist in general, are there assumptions on $K$ and $L$ that guarantee that such a torus does exist (aside from the well-known case of $L$ algebraically closed)?
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1$\begingroup$ I assume you want conditions on $K$ and $L$ that make this work for all $G$? For your example, $L$ need only be separably, not necessarily algebraically, closed. Another case where this can be done is when $K$ is a Henselian field, and $L$ is its strict Henselisation. This is in Bruhat–Tits 2. I'm almost positive it's not true in general, but don't have an example off the top of my head. $\endgroup$– LSpiceCommented Jun 9, 2017 at 18:53
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$\begingroup$ A silly example is when $K$ is finite (or, more generally, of cohomological dimension $\le 1$), at least if $L/K$ is algebraic; for then, if $S$ is a maximal $K$-split torus in $G$, then $C_G(S)_{/L}$ is a torus, hence contains a unique maximal split sub-torus, which is therefore $\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)$-stable, hence defined over $K$. $\endgroup$– LSpiceCommented Jun 9, 2017 at 19:00
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Suppose that
- $K = \mathbb Q_5$, say;
- $L$ is a cubic, totally ramified extension of $K$; and
- $G$ is the algebraic group underlying the multiplicative group of a cubic division algebra over $K$.
Then $G$ is $L$-split. On the other hand, because the splitting field of a torus in $G$ is a Galois extension of $K$, and the only intermediate field $L/L'/K$ with $L'/K$ Galois is $L' = K$, any subtorus of $G$ that becomes split over $L$ is already split.
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2$\begingroup$ A similar example exists with a quadratic division algebra and a quartic extension of number fields with ramification index 2 at each prime lying over a ramified prime of the division algebra. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 9, 2017 at 19:50