Past exam of the algebraic number theory course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 1

For a number field $K$ of degree of a field extension $n$, an integral basis is a basis ${\omega }_1,\dots ,{\omega }_n$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ such thatThus every algebraic integer in $K$ has a unique expression with integer coefficients in this basis. Merely requiring its entries to be algebraic integers would not suffice: for example, $1,2\sqrt{2}$ is a rational basis of $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$ but misses the algebraic integer $\sqrt{2}$ in its integer span.

Here is a proof of the existence of an integral basis. Start with any rational basis $v_1,\dots ,v_n$. Each $v_j$ has a nonzero integer multiple ${\alpha }_j$ that is an algebraic integer. Indeed, ifchoose a positive integer $q$ clearing all the denominators. Then $qv$ satisfies the monic polynomialThe ${\alpha }_j$ are still a rational basis. Put $M={\sum }_j\mathbb{Z}{\alpha }_j$ and form the matrixIts entries are integers, because products and sums of algebraic integers are algebraic integers and a rational algebraic integer is an integer. The nondegeneracy of the trace form of a number field gives $D\ne 0$: if $x\ne 0$, then $\mathrm{Tr}(x{x}^{-1})=n\ne 0$.

For $x={\sum }_j{x}_j{\alpha }_j\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$, each $\mathrm{Tr}(x{\alpha }_i)$ is an integer, soThe adjugate matrix formula for $T^{-1}$ gives $D{x}_j\in \mathbb{Z}$. ConsequentlyThe submodule theorem for free modules over a principal ideal domain says that every subgroup of the finite-rank free abelian group $D^{-1}M$ is again a free abelian group of rank at most $n$. Since ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ contains $M$, its rank is exactly $n$. A basis of this free abelian group is the required integral basis.

Write $x=r+s\sqrt{d}$ with $r,s\in \mathbb{Q}$. The field trace and field norm areThe element is an algebraic integer if and only if $T,N\in \mathbb{Z}$: necessity follows from its two conjugates; sufficiency follows from the monic polynomial $X^2-TX+N$.

Suppose $x$ is an algebraic integer. Set $a=2r\in \mathbb{Z}$. ThenWrite $2s=h/k$ in lowest terms, with $k>0$. Then $k^2\mid d$, and the hypothesis that $d$ is a square-free integer forces $k=1$. Thus $b=2s\in \mathbb{Z}$, and the remaining condition isThe only squares modulo four are zero and one. For $d\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}4)$, an odd $b$ is impossible, after which $a$ is even. For $d\equiv 3(\mathrm{mod}4)$, an odd $b$ would require $a^2\equiv 3(\mathrm{mod}4)$, again impossible. For $d\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$, the condition is precisely $a\equiv b(\mathrm{mod}2)$.

Conversely, $\sqrt{d}$ satisfies $X^2-d$, and when $d\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$, the element $\omega =(1+\sqrt{d})/2$ satisfiesTheir integer spans therefore consist of algebraic integers. In the last case,This proves the ring of integers of a quadratic field formula. The required integral basis isTheir rational linear independence follows from $\sqrt{d}\notin \mathbb{Q}$.

Put $\alpha =\sqrt{m_1}$, $\beta =\sqrt{m_2}$ and $F=\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$. The hypotheses make $L/\mathbb{Q}$ a biquadratic extension. To check the degree of a field extension is four, if $\beta =x+y\alpha$ with rational $x,y$, squaring gives $xy=0$. The case $y=0$ would make $m_2$ a rational square; the case $x=0$ would make $m_2/m_1$ a rational square. Neither can occur for the specified distinct coprime square-free integers. Hence $[L:F]=2$.

The nonidentity field automorphism of $L/F$ fixes $\alpha$ and sends $\beta$ to $-\beta$. Thus, for $\gamma =(r+s\alpha )+(t+u\alpha )\beta$, the field norm and field trace areIf $\gamma$ is an algebraic integer, so is its conjugate, and their sum and product are algebraic integers. Conversely, put $T={\mathrm{Tr}}_{L/F}(\gamma )$ and $N=N_{L/F}(\gamma )$. The identityshows that $\gamma$ is integral over $\mathbb{Z}[T,N]$. If $T,N$ are algebraic integers, the ring generated by algebraic integers $\mathbb{Z}[T,N]$ is integral over $\mathbb{Z}$. Since integral dependence is transitive, $\gamma$ is an algebraic integer. This proves the trace and norm integrality criterion for a quadratic extension, including elements already in $F$.

Again put $\alpha =\sqrt{m_1}$ and $\beta =\sqrt{m_2}$. The ring of integers of each of the three quadratic subfields has integral basis $1,\alpha$, $1,\beta$, or $1,\alpha \beta$, respectively: their square-free radicands are respectively congruent to $3,2,2$ modulo four. The field traces of the algebraic integer $\gamma$ to those subfields areThey are algebraic integers, so comparison with each integral basis givesThis use of all three subfields is needed to control $d$ as well as the other coefficients.

The field norm to $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$ isIts two coefficients must be integers. The second condition says $ab$ is even, since $m_2$ is even. Reducing the numerator of the first coefficient modulo four givesReduction modulo two first gives $a\equiv b(\mathrm{mod}2)$. Since $ab$ is even, both $a$ and $b$ are even. The same congruence now gives $c^2+d^2\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}2)$, or $c\equiv d(\mathrm{mod}2)$. Therefore every algebraic integer has the formwith four integer coefficients.

For the converse, $1,\alpha ,\beta$ are algebraic integers, andHere $4\mid 1+m_1$ and $2\mid m_2$, so both coefficients are integers. The monic polynomial $X^2-w^2$ and integral dependence is transitive show that $w$ is an algebraic integer. The four displayed generators are rationally linearly independent, since their coefficient matrix in $1,\alpha ,\beta ,\alpha \beta$ has determinant $1/2$. Hence the integral basis for coprime biquadratic radicands congruent to three and two isIn this formula $\sqrt{m_1{m}_2}$ denotes the product $\alpha \beta$ of the chosen square roots; this convention also handles negative radicands.

Put $\alpha =\sqrt{m_1}$, $\beta =\sqrt{m_2}$, andThe proposed integral basis for coprime biquadratic radicands congruent to two and one isEach entry is an algebraic integer, by the ring of integers of a quadratic field formula and closure under products. Their coefficient matrix in $1,\alpha ,\beta ,\alpha \beta$ has determinant $1/4$, so they are rationally linearly independent. It remains to show that they span every algebraic integer.

Write $\gamma =(a+b\alpha +c\beta +d\alpha \beta )/2$ initially with rational $a,b,c,d$. The field traces to $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$ and $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha \beta )$ are $a+b\alpha$ and $a+d\alpha \beta$. Since $m_1\equiv m_1{m}_2\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}4)$, the corresponding integral basis in each subfield gives $a,b,d\in \mathbb{Z}$. The field trace to $\mathbb{Q}(\beta )$ is $a+c\beta$. Membership in $\mathbb{Z}[\omega ]$ says that $2a,2c$ are integers of equal parity. As $a$ is already an integer, this forces $c\in \mathbb{Z}$ too.

Now the field norm to $\mathbb{Q}(\beta )$ isBy the ring of integers of a quadratic field formula, $A/2$ is an integer and has the same parity as $ac-m_{1}bd$. Thus $A$ is even, giving $a\equiv c(\mathrm{mod}2)$, andUsing $m_1\equiv 2$, $m_2\equiv 1$ and $a\equiv c(\mathrm{mod}2)$, this becomesHence $b\equiv d(\mathrm{mod}2)$. Finally,an expression with integer coefficients. This proves the asserted integral basis without assuming a general theorem about products of elements of an integral basis.