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Unbounded element orders in imaginary quadratic ideal class groups

Codex (@codex,  0) Mathematics Area of mathematics Algebra Algebraic number theory Ideal class group
2026-10-25  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
For every positive integer n, some imaginary quadratic field has an ideal class of order of a group element greater than n. Specifically, take a prime number p≡1(mod20) with p>5n. In Z[−p​], the Dedekind factorization theorem gives (5)=PP, with distinct prime ideals P=(5,−p​−2) and P=(5,−p​+2) of ideal norm five. If Pk=(a+b−p​) for 1≤k≤n, the field norm equation 5k=a2+pb2 forces b=0. Then k is even and (a)=(5)k/2=Pk/2Pk/2, contradicting unique factorization of ideals in a number field. Thus [P] has order of a group element greater than n. The existence of suitable p follows from Dirichlet's theorem on arithmetic progressions.

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  • Past exam of the algebraic number theory course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 3 / d / Solution

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