On divisibility of the class number \(h^+\) of the real cyclotomic fields \(\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_p+\zeta_p^{-1})\) by primes \(q\leq 5000\) (Q1378256)

The authors study the class number \(h^+\) of the real cyclotomic field of prime conductor \(p\), assuming that \(l = (p-1)/2\) is a prime \(\equiv 3 \pmod 4\). In a previous work [\textit{S. Jakubec}, Math. Comput. 67, No. 221, 369-398 (1998)] the first author proved by a computational method that \(h^+\) has no prime factor \(q \leq 23\) such that the order of \(q\) mod \(l\) is \((l-1)/2\). Now they extend this computation up to the bound \(q < 5000\). The method is based on a criterion for \(q \mid h^+\) depending upon the residue \(\text{mod }q\) of \(p\) (rather than upon \(p\) itself). The following consequence of the result is observed: If \(p\) is a prime such that both \((p-1)/2\) and \((p-3)/4\) are primes, then no prime \(q < 5000\) divides \(h^+\).