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In this pdf (https://kconrad.math.uconn.edu/blurbs/gradnumthy/classgroupKronecker.pdf) the author claims that the ideal class group of the ring of integers of $\mathbb{Q[\sqrt{-199}]}$ is the cyclic group $\mathbb{Z_9}$. I wish to prove this for some practice identifying ideal class groups. Here is a summary of some of the progress I have made:

(I) Since $-199 \equiv 1 mod 4$, we see that the algebraic integers are $\mathbb{Z[\frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2}]} \cong \mathbb{Z[x]}/(h(x))$ where $h(x) = x^2 - x + 50$

(II) Calculating the Minkowski bound, I need to check whether $2,3,5,7$ split in $\mathbb{Z[\frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2}]}$. I found that all but 3 split.

(III) Here, $(2) = PP^{*}$, $(5) = QQ^{*}$ and $(7) = SS^{*}$, where $P = (2, \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2})$, $Q = (5, \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2})$, and $S = (7, 3 - \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2})$. I determined that these prime ideals do not equal their conjugate prime ideals.

(IV) I determined that the order of $[S]$ in the ideal class group is 3. Indeed, $(373) = (12 + \sqrt{-199})*(12 - \sqrt{-199}) = (7)^3 $= $S^3S^{*3}$ and $(7)$ does not divide the ideals $(12 + \sqrt{-199}),(12 - \sqrt{-199})$

(V)This is where I am stuck!!

$(70) = (4 + \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2})(4 + \frac{1 - \sqrt{-199}}{2}) = (2)(5)(7) = PP^*QQ^*SS^*$. I determined that the principle ideals $(4 + \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2})$ , $(4 + \frac{1 - \sqrt{-199}}{2})$ are not divisible by the ideals $(2) = PP^*, (5)= QQ^*, (7) = SS^*$. Hence:

$(4 + \frac{1 + \sqrt{-199}}{2}) = (P or P^*)*(QorQ^*)*(SorS^*)$. WLOG lets assume its $PQS$. This $[P][Q][S] = identity$. Hence $[Q]^2 = [P]^{-2}[S]$.

Now what do I do?; I cant seem to prove that $[P]$ or $[Q]$ has order 9. How do I show that one of these have order 9? Any help will be appreciated.

An Update I determined the order of $[P]$ is 9 and so $[P]^9 = [S]^3$

User
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  • Please try to make the titles of your questions more informative. For example, Why does $a<b$ imply $a+c<b+c$? is much more useful for other users than A question about inequality. From How can I ask a good question?: Make your title as descriptive as possible. In many cases one can actually phrase the title as the question, at least in such a way so as to be comprehensible to an expert reader. You can find more tips for choosing a good title here. – Shaun May 08 '20 at 21:05

1 Answers1

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Well, he is correct, there is an isomorphism with the group of equivalence classes of positive binary forms of discriminant $-199,$ under Gauss composition...

The easiest way is to find equivalent forms which all have the same middle term, so that Dirichlet's description of Gauss composition is evident. In this case, forcing the middle coefficient to be $43$ works nicely. Each triple $\langle a,b,c \rangle$ refers to the binary form $$ f(x,y) = a x^2 + b xy + c y^2. $$

From Henri Cohen, A Course in Computational Number Theory, especially pages 225-229: we have Theorem 5.2.8, when $D<0$ is congruent to $0$ or $1 \pmod 4,$ we have a mapping from the positive forms (well, eqivalence classes) of that discriminant $$ \langle a,b,c \rangle \; \; \mapsto \; \; \; a \mathbb Z + \frac{-b + \sqrt D}{2} \mathbb Z $$ Lehman's notation is different. Also, for real fields and indefinite forms the mapping is usually two to one; it's a long story.

The first form is the group identity, the second is a group generator. $$ \langle 1, 43, 512 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 2, 43, 256 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 4, 43, 128 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 8, 43, 64 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 16, 43, 32 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 32, 43, 16 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 64, 43, 8 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 128, 43, 4 \rangle $$ $$ \langle 256, 43, 2 \rangle $$

Indeed, Dirichlet's method gives $$ \langle 2, 43, 2^8 \rangle \circ \langle 2^k, 43, 2^{9-k} \rangle = \langle 2^{k+1}, 43, 2^{8-k} \rangle $$

enter image description here

There is a recent book by Lehman, where the entire book takes binary forms and quadratic fields side by side, illustrating the isomorphism over and over, as a lead-in to later studies in algebraic number theory

 199:  < 1, 1, 50>    Square       199:  < 1, 1, 50>
 199:  < 2, -1, 25>    Square       199:  < 4, 3, 13>
 199:  < 2, 1, 25>    Square       199:  < 4, -3, 13>
 199:  < 4, -3, 13>    Square       199:  < 5, 1, 10>
 199:  < 4, 3, 13>    Square       199:  < 5, -1, 10>
 199:  < 5, -1, 10>    Square       199:  < 2, 1, 25>
 199:  < 5, 1, 10>    Square       199:  < 2, -1, 25>
 199:  < 7, -5, 8>    Square       199:  < 7, 5, 8>
 199:  < 7, 5, 8>    Square       199:  < 7, -5, 8>
Will Jagy
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  • How does this show that the ideal class group is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_9$? Does P or Q have order 9? – User May 08 '20 at 21:21
  • How do I read the table you made? – User May 08 '20 at 21:32
  • This is very interesting that the ideal class group can be represented by equivalent binary quadratic forms. Here is a follow up question: Is $\langle 2,43,256 \rangle$ "isomorphic" to $[P]$ in my argument above? – User May 08 '20 at 21:47
  • So I guess this means that as long as $a,b$ are the same different forms with different c's get mapped to the same algebraic integer? – User May 08 '20 at 22:17
  • Thanks for your response; I see why the class group is $\mathbb{Z}_9$, but I am curious how the language of prime ideals and splitting primes can be used to determine this. How would I show that the ideal class group is indeed $\mathbb{Z}_9$ in this way? – User May 09 '20 at 00:13