Codex @codex  0

Let $m\ge 2$, let $p=4m-1$ be prime, and suppose $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-p})$ has class number one. If $n\ge 0$ and $n^2+n+m<m^2$, then $n^2+n+m$ is prime. The key identity is the algebraic normA hypothetical prime divisor below $m$ would split and yield an algebraic integer of that norm, but the positive norm form $(a^2+p{b}^2)/4$ represents no prime below $m$.

Take the integral domain $R=\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-5}]$, embedded in $\mathbb{C}$. It exhibits failure of unique factorization in the ring of integers generated by square root of minus five:Here is why these are genuinely distinct factorizations into irreducible elements. The multiplicative algebraic norm $N(a+b\sqrt{-5})=a^2+5b^2$ is a nonnegative integer and equals one only for $\pm 1$, which are therefore the only units. Neither two nor three is a value of $N$: if $b\ne 0$ the value is at least five, and if $b=0$ it is a square. A factorization of $2$ into nonunits would require norms two and two; one of $3$ would require norms three and three; one of $1\pm \sqrt{-5}$ would require norms two and three. All are impossible. Thus all four factors are irreducible. The factors of norms four and nine cannot be associate elements of those of norm six, and $1+\sqrt{-5}$ and $1-\sqrt{-5}$ are not related by a sign. Therefore $R$ is an integral domain which is not a unique factorization domain.

Embed the ring of integers into ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ by its two real embeddings. Its image is a full Euclidean lattice of some covolume $d>0$. Fix $C>d$ and consider the symmetric rectangle $|{\sigma }_1(\alpha )|\le T$, $|{\sigma }_2(\alpha )|\le C/T$. Its area is $4C>4d$, so the Minkowski convex body theorem gives a nonzero algebraic integer ${\alpha }_T$ in it. Its algebraic norm is a nonzero integer with $|N({\alpha }_T)|\le C$.

As $T\to \infty$, infinitely many distinct ${\alpha }_T$ must occur: a finite collection of nonzero elements has a positive minimum of $|{\sigma }_2(\alpha )|$, whereas here that coordinate tends to zero. The principal ideals $({\alpha }_T)$ have norm $|N({\alpha }_T)|\le C$. There are only finitely many ideals of bounded norm: they are subgroups of bounded index in a rank-two free abelian group, and integer Hermite normal forms give finitely many possibilities at each such index. Thus infinitely many of these elements generate one ideal. Ratios of two generators of the same ideal are units, because inclusion in both directions supplies inverse algebraic integers. Among infinitely many distinct generators choose two whose ratio is not $\pm 1$. This gives a non-trivial unit without assuming Dirichlet's theorem.

Let $L/K$ be an extension of number fields, let $\alpha \in {\mathcal{O}}_L$ be a primitive element of a field extension, and let $f\in {\mathcal{O}}_K[X]$ be its monic minimal polynomial of an algebraic element. Put $R={\mathcal{O}}_K[\alpha ]$ and $S={\mathcal{O}}_L$. The Kummer-Dedekind theorem applies at a nonzero prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$ of ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ when $R_{\mathfrak{p}}=S_{\mathfrak{p}}$: equivalently, $\mathfrak{p}$ is outside the support of the finite-index quotient $S/R$. Write the factorization over the residue field $k={\mathcal{O}}_K/\mathfrak{p}$ aswith distinct monic irreducible polynomials ${\overline{g}}_j$, and choose monic lifts $g_j\in {\mathcal{O}}_K[X]$. ThenHere $f({\mathfrak{P}}_j/\mathfrak{p})$ denotes the residue-field degree, and the ramification index of a prime ideal is $m_j$.

To prove this, the local index condition givesThe final isomorphism is the Chinese remainder theorem. Each factor is a local ring with unique maximal ideal generated by ${\overline{g}}_j$, so its inverse image in $S$ is exactly ${\mathfrak{P}}_j$, and its residue field is $k[X]/({\overline{g}}_j)$. This proves the list of primes and the residue-field degrees. For the exponents, localize at ${\mathfrak{P}}_j$. The ring of integers of a number field is a Dedekind domain, so $S_{{\mathfrak{P}}_j}$ is a discrete valuation ring. If $\mathfrak{p}{S}_{{\mathfrak{P}}_j}={\mathfrak{P}}_j^{e_j}{S}_{{\mathfrak{P}}_j}$, the quotient has $e_j$ successive layers isomorphic to $S/{\mathfrak{P}}_j$, and hence $k$-dimension $e_j\mathrm{deg}{\overline{g}}_j$. The corresponding polynomial factor has $k$-dimension $m_j\mathrm{deg}{\overline{g}}_j$. Thus $e_j=m_j$, completing the proof rather than merely identifying the radicals.

For the calculation, set $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$ and $t=(\sqrt{5}-1)/2$. The ring of integers of a quadratic field gives ${\mathcal{O}}_K=\mathbb{Z}[t]$, with $t^2+t-1=0$. The algebraic norm of $4+\sqrt{5}$ is $11$, so its principal ideal has ideal norm $11$. Its quotient ring has prime order and is therefore the finite field ${\mathbb{F}}_{11}$; consequently $(4+\sqrt{5})$ is a prime ideal. In that residue field, $\sqrt{5}=-4=7$ and $t=3$.

Let $L=\mathbb{Q}({\zeta }_5)$. Since $t={\zeta }_5+{\zeta }_5^{-1}$ lies in $\mathbb{Z}[{\zeta }_5]$, the permitted identity ${\mathcal{O}}_L=\mathbb{Z}[{\zeta }_5]$ gives ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathcal{O}}_K[{\zeta }_5]$. Thus the local index condition holds at every prime. The relative minimal polynomial of an algebraic element is $X^2-tX+1$, whose reduction isThe roots are distinct. Applying the Kummer-Dedekind theorem givesFor the last equality, evaluation at $5$ or $9$ in ${\mathbb{F}}_{11}$ gives ${\zeta }_5+{\zeta }_5^{-1}=3$ and therefore $4+\sqrt{5}=5+2t=0$. Both descriptions are the same kernels of these evaluation maps. Each prime has ideal norm $11$, residue-field degree one and ramification index of a prime ideal one.

Let $D_n=p_{n-1}{q}_{n-2}-p_{n-2}{q}_{n-1}=(-1{)}^{n-2}$. Solving the given Möbius transformation for the complete quotient and rationalizing givesThereforeThe denominator $D_n$ is $\pm 1$, so both are integers. The algebraic norm denominator is nonzero because $\sqrt{d}$ is an irrational number.

Use the periodic continued fraction $\sqrt{d}=[a_0;\overline{a_1,\dots ,a_m}]$. A direct matrix argument avoids any assumption about the parity of the period. LetPeriodicity says that $M$ fixes ${\theta }_1$ as a Möbius transformation, while $B$ takes ${\theta }_1$ to $\sqrt{d}$. Thus $N=\left(\begin{array}{cc}A& B_1\\ C& D\end{array}\right)$ has integer entries and fixes $\sqrt{d}$. Equating rational and irrational parts in $A\sqrt{d}+B_1=\sqrt{d}(C\sqrt{d}+D)$ gives $A=D,B_1=dC$. ConsequentlyThe eigenvalue of $M$ on $({\theta }_1,1{)}^T$ is its denominator $M_{21}{\theta }_1+M_{22}>1$; this uses $a_i\ge 1$ and ${\theta }_1>1$, including the one-term period. The corresponding eigenvalue of $N$ is $A+C\sqrt{d}>1$. If the algebraic norm is $-1$, square this unit; otherwise keep it. In either case there is a unit $u=X+Y\sqrt{d}>1$ of algebraic norm $1$ with integer $X,Y$. Its powers have integer coefficients and algebraic norm $1$, and are distinct since $u^j$ strictly increases. Hence Pell's equation has infinitely many integer solutions.

The algebraic norm on $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-5}]$ is $N(a+b\sqrt{-5})=a^2+5b^2$ and satisfies multiplicativity of the algebraic norm. The calculation in part (a) therefore gives all elements of norm $9$:If one of these factored into two nonunits, multiplicativity would force both factors to have norm $3$. But the Diophantine equation $a^2+5b^2=3$ has no solution. Hence all six displayed elements are irreducible. This is a standard example in which an irreducible element need not have prime norm.

LetIts minimal polynomial is $X^2-X+m$, and the algebraic norm givesSuppose that $N$ is composite and choose a prime divisor $q\le \sqrt{N}<m$. Since $X^2-X+m$ has the root $-n$ modulo $q$, the idealis a prime ideal of ideal norm $q$. The triviality of the ideal class group makes $\mathfrak{q}=(\beta )$ principal, so $|N_{L/\mathbb{Q}}(\beta )|=q$.

The ring of integers of a quadratic field consists of elementswhose norm is $(a^2+p{b}^2)/4$. If $b=0$, this norm is a square and cannot be the prime $q$. If $b\ne 0$, thenand integrality gives $q\ge m$, again a contradiction. Therefore the Euler prime-generating quadratic from class number one yields