Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2005 / iii / Paper 31 / 5

For a number field $K$ and a modulus of a number field $\mathfrak{m}$, let $I_K(\mathfrak{m})$ be the group of fractional ideals prime to its finite part. Let $P_K(\mathfrak{m})$ consist of principal ideals generated by elements congruent to one modulo its finite part and positive at each real place in its infinite part. The ray class group is ${\mathrm{Cl}}_{\mathfrak{m}}(K)=I_K(\mathfrak{m})/P_K(\mathfrak{m})$.

The classification theorem of class field theory asserts the existence of a ray class field $K_{\mathfrak{m}}$ and an Artin map isomorphismIts intermediate fields correspond contravariantly to subgroups of this ray class group. Equivalently, for each congruence subgroup of fractional ideals $P_K(\mathfrak{m})\subseteq H\subseteq I_K(\mathfrak{m})$ there is a unique finite abelian extension with Artin group kernel $H$ and group $I_K(\mathfrak{m})/H$. Every finite abelian extension occurs for some modulus. For a fixed modulus, these are exactly the extensions whose conductor divides that modulus; the same field may be presented using larger moduli, with the appropriate pulled-back group kernel.

We quote the conductor facts needed to specialize this classification. The finite conductor exponent is zero exactly at the unramified primes. A real place occurs in the conductor exactly when it becomes complex. Thus conductor one means unramified at every finite prime and split at every real place. With $\mathfrak{m}=1$ the ray class group is the ordinary ideal class group, so classification gives an extension $H_K/K$ withIt is unramified at all finite primes, and its real places split. Conversely, every finite abelian extension with those properties has conductor one and lies in $K_1=H_K$. This proves the existence and maximality of the ordinary Hilbert class field. Its degree is finite by finiteness of the ideal class group. The real-place convention matters: allowing real places to become complex gives the narrow class field instead; for the imaginary quadratic field in part (ii) this distinction disappears.

Put $t=\sqrt{-30}$ and $K=\mathbb{Q}(t)$. The ring of integers is $\mathbb{Z}[t]$, and the fundamental discriminant is $D_K=-120$. For a reduced positive definite binary quadratic form $(a,b,c)$ of discriminant $-120$, reduction givesThe coefficient $b$ is even; checking $1\le a\le 6$ and $|b|\le a$, with the usual nonnegative sign choice at boundary equalities, leaves preciselyThe correspondence between proper quadratic forms and ideal classes therefore gives $h_K=4$. All four classes equal their inverses, since inversion replaces $b$ by $-b$. HenceThe three nontrivial classes may be represented by the ramified prime ideals ${\mathfrak{p}}_2=(2,t)$, ${\mathfrak{p}}_3=(3,t)$ and ${\mathfrak{p}}_5=(5,t)$. They square to principal ideals and satisfy ${\mathfrak{p}}_2{\mathfrak{p}}_3{\mathfrak{p}}_5=(t)$. None is principal: an integral generator of norm $2$, $3$ or $5$ would require $a^2+30b^2$ to equal that number, which is impossible. The relation then makes the three classes distinct, consistently with the four-form calculation.

ConsiderThe three rational square classes are independent, so $[H:\mathbb{Q}]=8$. Their radical product is $\sqrt{-30}$, so $K\subset H$ and $[H:K]=4$; the extension $H/K$ is abelian. To verify that it is unramified, rather than assuming that radical adjunctions are harmless at $2,3,5$, use the conductor-discriminant formula. The seven quadratic subfields have fundamental discriminantsThe formula givesThe discriminant tower identity now givesThus the relative discriminant is the unit ideal and no finite prime ramifies. The base has no real places, so there is no infinite ramification to check. This unramified abelian degree-four extension has degree $h_K$, and part (i) provesThis is the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus thirty.

Next translate prime representation into an ideal class. For $p\nmid 30$, we claimIf a representation exists, $\alpha =2x+yt$ lies in ${\mathfrak{p}}_2$ and has $N_{K/\mathbb{Q}}\alpha =2p$. The integral ideal $(\alpha ){\mathfrak{p}}_2^{-1}$ has norm $p$, so it is a prime ideal $\mathfrak{P}$. Its class is $[{\mathfrak{p}}_2{]}^{-1}=[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$. Conversely, if $[\mathfrak{P}]=[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$, the product ${\mathfrak{p}}_2\mathfrak{P}$ is principal, say $(\alpha )$. Since this ideal lies in ${\mathfrak{p}}_2$, its generator has the form $\alpha =2x+yt$ with integers $x,y$. Taking norms gives $4x^2+30y^2=2p$, proving the reverse implication. This is prime representation via an ideal class, and it proves sufficiency as well as necessity.

Identify the required class in $\mathrm{Gal}(H/K)$ through the Artin map. We can use the explicit representation $17=2+15$: $2+t$ has norm $34$, so the prime above $17$ obtained from $(2+t){\mathfrak{p}}_2^{-1}$ has class $[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$. Its Frobenius in the multiquadratic extension acts on the three radicals with signsTheir product is one, so this automorphism fixes $K$. Because $H/\mathbb{Q}$ is abelian, for any unramified rational prime $p$ that splits in $K$, the Frobenius at either prime of $K$ of norm $p$ is its rational Frobenius restricted to $H/K$. The Artin isomorphism therefore makes the required class condition equivalent toConversely, these signs already imply splitting in $K$, since their product is $(\frac{-30}{p})=1$. No extra splitting condition is missing.

The supplementary law for $2$, quadratic reciprocity for $-3$ and $5$, and then the Chinese remainder theorem turn these sign conditions intoTheir four simultaneous residue classes modulo $120$ are $17,23,47,113$. Finally, $2$ is represented by $(x,y)=(\pm 1,0)$, whereas $3$ and $5$ cannot be represented: $y\ne 0$ gives a value at least $15$, and $y=0$ gives twice a square. We have proved the complete criterion