narrow class group

In algebraic number theory, the narrow class group of a number field ''K'' is a refinement of the class group of ''K'' that takes into account some information about embeddings of ''K'' into the field of real numbers.

Formal definition

Suppose that ''K'' is a finite extension of Q. Recall that the ordinary class group of ''K'' is defined to be
:$C_K = I_K / P_K,\,\!$
where ''I''_''K'' is the group of fractional ideals of ''K'', and ''P''_''K'' is the group of principal fractional ideals of ''K'', that is, ideals of the form ''aO''_''K'' where ''a'' is an element of ''K''.

The narrow class group is defined to be the quotient
:$C_K^+ = I_K / P_K^+,$
where now ''P''_''K''⁺ is the group of totally positive principal fractional ideals of ''K''; that is, ideals of the form ''aO''_''K'' where ''a'' is an element of ''K'' such that σ(''a'') is ''positive'' for every embedding
:$\sigma : K \to \mathbf R.$

Uses

The narrow class group features prominently in the theory of representing of integers by quadratic forms. An example is the following result (Fröhlich and Taylor, Chapter V, Theorem 1.25).

:Theorem. Suppose that
::$K = \mathbf Q(\sqrt d),$
:where ''d'' is a square-free integer, and that the narrow class group of ''K'' is trivial. Suppose that
::$\\,\!$
:is a basis for the ring of integers of ''K''. Define a quadratic form
:: $q_K(x,y) = N_(\omega_1 x + \omega_2 y)$,
:where ''N''_''K''/Q is the norm. Then a prime number ''p'' is of the form
:: $p = q_K(x,y)\,\!$
:for some integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if either
:: $p \mid d_K\,\!,$
:or
:: $p = 2 \quad \mbox \quad d_K \equiv 1 \pmod 8,$
:or
::$p > 2 \quad \mbox \quad \left(\frac p\right) = 1,$
:where ''d''_''K'' is the discriminant of ''K'', and
::$\left(\frac ab\right)$
:indicates the Legendre symbol.

Examples

For example, one can prove that the quadratic fields Q(), Q(), Q() all have trivial narrow class group. Then, by choosing appropriate bases for the integers of each of these fields, the above theorem implies the following:
* A prime ''p'' is of the form ''p'' = ''x''² + ''y''² for integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if
::$p = 2 \quad \mbox \quad p \equiv 1 \pmod 4.$
: (This is known as Fermat's theorem on sums of two squares.)
* A prime ''p'' is of the form ''p'' = ''x''² − 2''y''² for integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if
::$p = 2 \quad \mbox \quad p \equiv 1, 7 \pmod 8.$
* A prime ''p'' is of the form ''p'' = ''x''² − ''xy'' + ''y''² for integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if
::$p = 3 \quad \mbox \quad p \equiv 1 \pmod 3.$ (cf. Eisenstein prime)

An example that illustrates the difference between the narrow class group and the usual class group is the case of Q(). This has trivial class group, but its narrow class group has order 2. Because the class group is trivial, the following statement is true:
* A prime ''p'' or its inverse –''p'' is of the form ''± p'' = ''x''² - 6''y''² for integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if
::$p = 2 \quad \mbox \quad p = 3 \quad \mbox \quad \left(\frac\right)=1.$

However, this statement is false if we focus only on ''p'' and not -''p'' (and is in fact even false for ''p'' = 2), because the narrow class group is nontrivial. The statement that classifies the positive ''p'' is the following:
* A prime ''p'' is of the form ''p'' = ''x''² - 6''y''² for integers ''x'' and ''y'' if and only if ''p'' = 3 or
::$\left(\frac\right)=1 \quad \mbox\quad \left(\frac\right)=1.$

(Whereas the first statement allows primes $p\equiv 1, 5, 19, 23\pmod$, the second only allows primes $p\equiv 1, 19\pmod {24}$.)

See also

* Class group
* Quadratic form

References

* A. Fröhlich and M. J. Taylor, ''Algebraic Number Theory'' (p. 180), Cambridge University Press, 1991.

Algebraic number theory