Hermitian groups and K-theory

This article provides the fundamental constructions and results for Hermitian groups which are necessary for an algebraic understanding of the functors K-1 and K-2 Of Hermitian forms. These include a definition of the elementary subgroup EH of a general Hermitian group GH, the Hermitian Whitehead lemma for stabilized GH, a definition of the Hermitian Steinberg group, and the theorem that a stabilized Steinberg group is the universal central extension of its associated stabilized elementary group.