Computation of relative class numbers of CM-fields by using Hecke -functions

We develop an efficient technique for computing values at of Hecke -functions. We apply this technique to the computation of relative class numbers of non-abelian CM-fields which are abelian extensions of some totally real subfield . We note that the smaller the degree of the more efficient our technique is. In particular, our technique is very efficient whenever instead of simply choosing (the maximal totally real subfield of ) we can choose real quadratic. We finally give examples of computations of relative class numbers of several dihedral CM-fields of large degrees and of several quaternion octic CM-fields with large discriminants.

     

Efficient computation of root numbers and class numbers of parametrized families of real abelian number fields

Let be a parametrized family of simplest real cyclic cubic, quartic, quintic or sextic number fields of known regulators, e.g., the so-called simplest cubic and quartic fields associated with the polynomials and . We give explicit formulas for powers of the Gaussian sums attached to the characters associated with these simplest number fields. We deduce a method for computing the exact values of these Gaussian sums. These values are then used to efficiently compute class numbers of simplest fields. Finally, such class number computations yield many examples of real cyclotomic fields of prime conductors and class numbers greater than or equal to . However, in accordance with Vandiver's conjecture, we found no example of for which divides .

     

Zeros of 2-adic -functions and congruences for class numbers and fundamental units

We study the imaginary quadratic fields such that the Iwasawa -invariant equals 1, obtaining information on zeros of -adic -functions and relating this to congruences for fundamental units and class numbers.

     

Computation of class numbers of quadratic number fields

We explain how one can dispense with the numerical computation of approximations to the transcendental integral functions involved when computing class numbers of quadratic number fields. We therefore end up with a simpler and faster method for computing class numbers of quadratic number fields. We also explain how to end up with a simpler and faster method for computing relative class numbers of imaginary abelian number fields.

     

The exponent three class group problem for some real cyclic cubic number fields

We determine all the simplest cubic fields whose ideal class groups have exponent dividing , thus generalizing the determination by G. Lettl of all the simplest cubic fields with class number and the determination by D. Byeon of all all the simplest cubic fields with class number . We prove that there are simplest cubic fields with ideal class groups of exponent (and simplest cubic fields with ideal class groups of exponent , i.e. with class number one).

     

Computations of class numbers of real quadratic fields

In this paper an unconditional probabilistic algorithm to compute the class number of a real quadratic field is presented, which computes the class number in expected time . The algorithm is a random version of Shanks' algorithm. One of the main steps in algorithms to compute the class number is the approximation of . Previous algorithms with the above running time , obtain an approximation for by assuming an appropriate extension of the Riemann Hypothesis. Our algorithm finds an appoximation for without assuming the Riemann Hypothesis, by using a new technique that we call the `Random Summation Technique'. As a result, we are able to compute the regulator deterministically in expected time . However, our estimate of on the running time of our algorithm to compute the class number is not effective.

     

On real quadratic function fields of Chowla type with ideal class number one

Let be the finite field with elements, (2), , where is a square-free polynomial in with and . In this paper several equivalent conditions for the ideal class number to be one are presented and all such quadratic function fields with are determined.

     

The class number one problem for some non-abelian normal CM-fields

Let be a non-abelian normal CM-field of degree any odd prime. Note that the Galois group of is either the dicyclic group of order or the dihedral group of order We prove that the (relative) class number of a dicyclic CM-field of degree is always greater then one. Then, we determine all the dihedral CM-fields of degree with class number one: there are exactly nine such CM-fields.

     

Class groups of imaginary function fields: The inert case

Let be a finite field and a transcendental element over . An imaginary function field is defined to be a function field such that the prime at infinity is inert or totally ramified. For the totally imaginary case, in a recent paper the second author constructed infinitely many function fields of any fixed degree over in which the prime at infinity is totally ramified and with ideal class numbers divisible by any given positive integer greater than 1. In this paper, we complete the imaginary case by proving the corresponding result for function fields in which the prime at infinity is inert. Specifically, we show that for relatively prime integers and , there are infinitely many function fields of fixed degree such that the class group of contains a subgroup isomorphic to and the prime at infinity is inert.

     

Iwasawa invariants and class numbers of quadratic fields for the prime

Let be a square-free integer with and . Put and . For the cyclotomic -extension of , we denote by the -th layer of over . We prove that the -Sylow subgroup of the ideal class group of is trivial for all integers if and only if the class number of is not divisible by the prime . This enables us to show that there exist infinitely many real quadratic fields in which splits and whose Iwasawa -invariant vanishes.

     

On a class of elliptic functions associated with imaginary quadratic fields

Let be the field discriminant of an imaginary quadratic field. We construct a class of elliptic functions associated naturally with the quadratic field which, combined with the general theory of elliptic functions, allows us to provide a unified theory for two fundamental results (one classical and one due to Ramanujan) about the elliptic functions.

     

The tame kernel of imaginary quadratic fields with class number 2 or 3

This paper presents improved bounds for the norms of exceptional finite places of the group , where is an imaginary quadratic field of class number 2 or 3. As an application we show that .

     

Class numbers of cyclotomic function fields

Let be a prime power and let be the finite field with elements. For each polynomial in , one could use the Carlitz module to construct an abelian extension of , called a Carlitz cyclotomic extension. Carlitz cyclotomic extensions play a fundamental role in the study of abelian extensions of , similar to the role played by cyclotomic number fields for abelian extensions of . We are interested in the tower of Carlitz cyclotomic extensions corresponding to the powers of a fixed irreducible polynomial in . Two types of properties are obtained for the -parts of the class numbers of the fields in this tower, for a fixed prime number . One gives congruence relations between the -parts of these class numbers. The other gives lower bound for the -parts of these class numbers.

     

Classification of integral lattices with large class number

A detailed exposition of Kneser's neighbour method for quadratic lattices over totally real number fields, and of the sub-procedures needed for its implementation, is given. Using an actual computer program which automatically generates representatives for all isomorphism classes in one genus of rational lattices, various results about genera of -elementary lattices, for small prime level are obtained. For instance, the class number of -dimensional -elementary even lattices of determinant is ; no extremal lattice in the sense of Quebbemann exists. The implementation incorporates as essential parts previous programs of W. Plesken and B. Souvignier.

     

Explicit bounds and heuristics on class numbers in hyperelliptic function fields

In this paper, we provide tight estimates for the divisor class number of hyperelliptic function fields. We extend the existing methods to any hyperelliptic function field and improve the previous bounds by a factor proportional to with the help of new results. We thus obtain a faster method of computing regulators and class numbers. Furthermore, we provide experimental data and heuristics on the distribution of the class number within the bounds on the class number. These heuristics are based on recent results by Katz and Sarnak. Our numerical results and the heuristics imply that our approximation is in general far better than the bounds suggest.

     

On univoque Pisot numbers

We study Pisot numbers which are univoque, i.e., such that there exists only one representation of as , with . We prove in particular that there exists a smallest univoque Pisot number, which has degree . Furthermore we give the smallest limit point of the set of univoque Pisot numbers.

     

Heuristics for class numbers and lambda invariants

Let be an imaginary quadratic field and let be the associated real quadratic field. Starting from the Cohen-Lenstra heuristics and Scholz's theorem, we make predictions for the behaviors of the 3-parts of the class groups of these two fields as varies. We deduce heuristic predictions for the behavior of the Iwasawa -invariant for the cyclotomic -extension of and test them computationally.

     

On the constructible numbers

Let be the field of constructible numbers, i.e. the numbers constructed from a given unit length using ruler and compass. We prove is definable in .

     

Pythagoras numbers of fields

A field of characteristic is said to have finite Pythagoras number if there exists an integer such that each nonzero sum of squares in can be written as a sum of squares, in which case the Pythagoras number of is defined to be the least such integer. As a consequence of Pfister's results on the level of fields, of a nonformally real field is always of the form or , and all integers of such type can be realized as Pythagoras numbers of nonformally real fields. Prestel showed that values of the form , , and can always be realized as Pythagoras numbers of formally real fields. We will show that in fact to every integer there exists a formally real field with . As a refinement, we will show that if and are integers such that , then there exists a uniquely ordered field with and (resp. ), where (resp. ) denotes the supremum of the dimensions of anisotropic forms over which are torsion in the Witt ring of (resp. which are indefinite with respect to each ordering on ).

     

Root numbers of abelian varieties

We generalize a theorem of D. Rohrlich concerning root numbers of elliptic curves over number fields. Our result applies to arbitrary abelian varieties. Namely, under certain conditions which naturally extend the conditions used by D. Rohrlich, we show that the root number associated to an abelian variety over a number field and a complex finite-dimensional irreducible representation of with real-valued character is equal to . We also show that our result is consistent with a refined version of the conjecture of Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer.