Congruent numbers, quadratic forms and \(K_2\) (Q2160221): Difference between revisions

The author proves the following variant of a famous theorem of \textit{J. B. Tunnell} [Invent. Math. 72, 323--334 (1983; Zbl 0515.10013)]: Let \(n\) be a squarefree odd positive integer. If \(n\) is a congruent number then we have the equality \(\#\{ (x,y,z)\in \mathbb{Z}^3\ |\ n= x^2+2y^2+32z^2\}=\#\{ (x,y,z)\ |\ n=2x^2+4y^2+9z^2-4yz\}\). Furthermore, the converse implication holds if the weak Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture holds for the elliptic curve \(E_n:y^2=x^3-nx\). He deduces a new family of noncongruent primes \(p\equiv 1\mod{8}\); namely, those with the property that, for \(F=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-p})\), the \(4\)-rank of \(K_2(\mathcal{O}_F)\) is \(1\) and the \(8\)-rank is \(0\). Conjecturally, this accounts for a family of density \(1/4\) of primes congruent to \(1\) modulo \(8\). He also proves analogous results for even positive integers \(n\) and also for \(\pi/3\)- and \(2\pi/3\)-congruent numbers.