Past exam of the number theory course of the University of Oxford / 2010 / B (Algebraic number theory)

An integral basis is a $\mathbb{Z}$-basis of the ring of integers ${\mathcal{O}}_K$; its elements also form a $\mathbb{Q}$-basis of $K$.

To prove existence, first multiply the elements of a rational basis by suitable nonzero integers to obtain an integral rational basis $w_1,\dots ,w_n$. Put $M={\sum }_j\mathbb{Z}{w}_j$. The trace pairing is nondegenerate in characteristic zero, and the matrix $T=(\mathrm{Tr}(w_i{w}_j))$ has integer entries and nonzero determinant $\Delta$. If $\alpha ={\sum }_j{c}_j{w}_j$ is integral, all $\mathrm{Tr}(\alpha w_i)$ are integers, so $Tc\in {\mathbb{Z}}^n$. The adjugate formula gives $c\in {\Delta }^{-1}{\mathbb{Z}}^n$. ConsequentlyA subgroup of a free abelian group is free, and these inclusions force rank $n$. A $\mathbb{Z}$-basis of ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ is therefore an integral basis.

Now put $s={\theta }^2=\sqrt{d}$ and $F=\mathbb{Q}(s)$. The polynomial $X^4-d$ is irreducible by Eisenstein at any prime dividing the squarefree $d$, except for $d=-1$, where $(X+1{)}^4+1$ is Eisenstein at $2$. Thus $[K:\mathbb{Q}]=4$ and $[K:F]=2$. Every $\gamma \in K$ has the unique form $\alpha +\beta \theta$ with $\alpha ,\beta \in F$. The nontrivial $F$-automorphism sends $\theta$ to $-\theta$, so an integral $\gamma$ has integral conjugate $\alpha -\beta \theta$. Relative trace and norm of integral elements are integral in $F$. Applying them to $\gamma$ and taking the trace of $\theta \gamma$ givesThe power basis has discriminantIndeed, the resultant of $X^4-d$ and $4X^3$ is $4^4\prod {\theta }_j^3=-256d^3$; the discriminant sign factor is $(-1{)}^6=1$. By the discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice, a prime dividing $[{\mathcal{O}}_K:\mathbb{Z}[\theta ]]$ must divide $2d$.

No odd prime $p\mid d$ can divide this index. The Eisenstein equation gives ${\theta }^4/p\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$, while $r{\theta }^i/p$ has nonintegral field norm for $p\nmid r$ and $0\le i<4$: its $p$-adic norm valuation is $i-4<0$. If $p^{-1}{\sum }_{i=0}^3{r}_i{\theta }^i$ were integral, multiplication by ${\theta }^3$ first forces $p\mid r_0$; subtracting $r_0/p$ and multiplying by ${\theta }^2$ forces $p\mid r_1$. Continuing forces all coefficients divisible by $p$. This excludes an index element of order $p$.

To exclude $2$, any index element of order two would be represented by an integralwith integers $a,b,c,e$ not all even. Here $\alpha =(a+cs)/2$ and $\beta =(b+es)/2$. The integrality of ${\alpha }^2-{\beta }^{2}s$ forcesSince $d\equiv 3(\mathrm{mod}4)$, the first congruence implies $a,c$ have the same parity. If both were odd, the second would require $b^2+3e^2\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}4)$, impossible. Hence $a,c$ are even. The second congruence then forces $b,e$ to have the same parity, while the first forces $be$ even. Thus $b,e$ are even too, a contradiction. Therefore the index is one andFor the last request, let $t=\sqrt[4]{5}$ and take $\delta =(t+t^3)/2$. It satisfies ${\delta }^2=(5+3\sqrt{5})/2$, and henceThis monic integer polynomial proves integrality. Its coordinates in the rational power basis have halves, so $\delta \notin \mathbb{Z}[t]$. Also $\delta =t(1+\sqrt{5})/2$ with a nonzero coefficient in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$; if $\delta$ were in that quadratic field, then $t$ would be too, contradicting degree four. Thus it meets both exclusions.

The product of ideals $AB$ consists of finite sums ${\sum }_j{a}_j{b}_j$ with $a_j\in A$, $b_j\in B$. Ideal divisibility $P\mid A$ means $A=PC$ for an integral ideal $C$; in this ring it is equivalent to $A\subseteq P$. The ideal norm is $N(A)=|{\mathcal{O}}_K/A|$, equivalently its additive lattice index.

If the prime ideal $P$ divides $AB$ but does not divide $A$, choose $a\in A\setminus P$. For every $b\in B$, $ab\in AB\subseteq P$, so primality gives $b\in P$. Thus $B\subseteq P$, proving $P\mid B$.

Every nonzero proper ideal $A$ is contained in a maximal ideal $P$, which is prime. Then $P\mid A$, so $A=PB$. Norm multiplicativity gives $N(B)=N(A)/N(P)<N(A)$ because $N(P)\ge 2$. Induction on the positive integer $N(A)$ gives a prime-ideal factorization, ending at norm one. For uniqueness, a prime in one factorization divides some prime in the other. Every nonzero prime ideal is maximal, since its quotient is a finite integral domain and hence a field. The two primes therefore coincide. Cancel that common factor using the permitted cancellation law, and continue. This proves uniqueness up to order.

The finite additive group ${\mathcal{O}}_K/A$ has order $N(A)$, so that integer annihilates the class of $1$. ThereforeIn particular an ideal of norm $m$ contains $(m)$. Such ideals correspond to certain additive subgroups of the finite group ${\mathcal{O}}_K/(m)$, so there are finitely many. Finiteness of these quotients follows from an integral basis; a nonzero ideal contains a nonzero principal ideal, whose index is the absolute field norm of its generator.

For the computation put $s=\sqrt{-6}$. The Kummer-Dedekind theorem says that when $p$ does not divide the power-basis index, a factorization $\bar{f}={\prod }_i{\bar{g}}_i^{e_i}$ gives $(p)={\prod }_i(p,g_i(s){)}^{e_i}$, with each factor having norm $p^{\mathrm{deg}{g}_i}$. The given full power basis has index one. Since $X^2+6\equiv X^2(\mathrm{mod}2)$ and $X^2+6\equiv (X-1)(X+1)(\mathrm{mod}7)$,Here $N(P)=2$ and $N(Q)=N(Q^{\prime })=7$. A prime ideal dividing an ideal of norm $98=2\cdot 7^2$ lies above $2$ or $7$, and these are all the prime ideals above them. Unique factorization and norm multiplicativity therefore leave exactlyThey are distinct by their prime-ideal valuations, and each has norm $98$.

Equality $(\alpha )=(\beta )$ gives $\alpha =u\beta$ and $\beta =v\alpha$ for some $u,v\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$. Substitution and cancellation of the nonzero $\alpha$ yield $uv=1$. Thus $u$ is a unit and $\alpha =u\beta$.

For the ideal-power assertion, suppose first that all ideals are nonzero. A prime ideal divides at most one $Q_i$ because the $Q_i$ are pairwise coprime. Taking its valuation in the given equality givesSince $\gcd (n_i,k)=1$, every exponent $v_P(Q_i)$ is divisible by $k$. Dividing all its prime-factorization exponents by $k$ constructs an integral ideal $I_i$ with $Q_i=I_i^k$. If a $Q_i$ is zero, pairwise coprimality forces all other $Q_j$ to be the unit ideal; taking $I_i=0$ and the other $I_j={\mathcal{O}}_K$ covers that degenerate case too.

For the first Diophantine equation, $x$ cannot be odd: then $x^2+17\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}8)$, while a cube modulo eight is $0$ or odd. Hence $x$ is even and $y$ is odd. Also $17\nmid x$, since otherwise $v_{17}(x^2+17)=1$, impossible for a cube.

In $\mathcal{O}=\mathbb{Z}[s]$, $s=\sqrt{-17}$, factorThe two principal ideals are coprime. A common prime ideal would divide their sum $2x$ and difference $2s$, and hence lie above $2$ or $17$; odd norm excludes $2$, while $17\nmid x$ excludes $17$. Their coprime product is the cube $(y{)}^3$, so the ideal-power assertion makes $(x+s)=I^3$. The class group has order $4$, while $[I{]}^3=1$, so $[I]=1$. Write $I=(a+bs)$ for integers $a,b$.

The only units are $\pm 1$, since their norm equation is $a^2+17b^2=1$. Equality of principal ideals therefore gives $x+s=\pm (a+bs{)}^3$. Absorb the sign into $a+bs$. Comparing the coefficient of $s$ yieldsThus $b=1$ or $-1$. The first gives $a^2=6$ and the second gives $3a^2=16$, both impossible for an integer $a$. Consequently the first equation has no integral solutions.

For the product equation, odd $x$ gives $(x^2+17)(9x^2+17)\equiv 4(\mathrm{mod}8)$, again not a cube. If $17\mid x$, each factor has $17$-adic valuation one, so the product has valuation two, also impossible. Thus any hypothetical solution has $x$ even and $17\nmid x$. The two positive factors are odd, and their greatest common divisor dividesIt must therefore be one. A product of coprime positive integers is a cube only if each factor is a cube. This would make $x^2+17$ a cube, contradicting the result already proved. Hence the product equation also has no integral solutions.