Large imperfect fields are existentially closed in function fields after finite constant extension

Abstract

For an algebraic function field $F$ over a large field $K$, we show: 1) if $F|K$ has a rational place, then there is a finite purely inseparable extension $K'|K$ such that $K'$ is existentially closed in $F.K'$; 2) $F|K$ has a rational place admitting local uniformization if and only if $K$ is existentially closed in $F$.