Index reduction formulas for twisted flag varieties, I.

A general formula is proved for the change in the Schur index of a central simple algebra on passing from the ground field F to the function field F(X) of a twisted flag variety X, i.e., a projective variety such that there is an adjoint semisimple algebraic group G acting on X over F such that the action becomes transitive over the separable closure of F. The general formula encompasses special cases previously proved where X is a Brauer-Severi variety, or a generic partial splitting variety of a central simple algebra, or the transfer of such a variety, a quadric, or the involution variety of an algebra with orthogonal involution. For the classical simple groups G of inner type, all the corresponding varieties X are described, and the specific index reduction formula is given for each such X.The second author would like to express his thanks to J.-L. Colliot-Thélène for stimulating discussions on this subject.Supported in part by the NSF.