The 16-rank of \(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-p})\) (Q2305965)

The author obtains a density result for the $16$-rank of the imaginary quadratic fields ${\mathbb Q}(\sqrt{-p})$ when $p$ runs through all the prime numbers. The study of the $2$-part of the class group $Cl(K)$ of a quadratic field $K$ is often done via so-called \textit{governing fields}, a concept first defined by \textit{H. Cohn} and \textit{J. C. Lagarias} [in: Topics in classical number theory, Colloq. Budapest 1981, Vol. I, Colloq. Math. Soc. János Bolyai 34, 257--280 (1984; Zbl 0541.12002)] and which is defined in the following way. Let $k$ be an integer $\geq 1$ and let $d$ be an integer $\not \equiv 2\pmod 4$. For a finite abelian group $A$, define the $2^k$-rank of $A$ to be the dimension of $2^{k-1}A/2^k\, A$ over ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$. Then a \textit{governing field} $M_{d,k}$ is a normal field extension of ${\mathbb Q}$ such that the $2^k$-rank of $\mathrm{Cl}({\mathbb Q}(\sqrt{dp})$ is determined by the splitting of $p$ in $M_{d,k}$. Not knowing that $M_{d,4}$ exists has been a handicap for proving density results for the $16$-rank. In previous papers, the author and Milovic managed to obtain results under certain hypotheses. In the paper under review, the author proves that on the average $1/{16}$ of the imaginary quadratic fields $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-p})$ verify the divisibility $16\vert h(-p)$. Koymans obtains his result unconditionally by using a criterion of \textit{P. A. Leonard} and \textit{K. S. Williams} [Can. Math. Bull. 25, 200--206 (1982; Zbl 0431.12007)] which is a product of quartic residue symbol and a quadratic one. This prevents Koymans from using the method of \textit{J. Friedlander} and \textit{H. Iwaniec} [Ann. Math. (2) 148, No. 3, 945--1040 (1998; Zbl 0926.11068)] described in the paper ``The polynomial $X^2+Y^4$ captures its primes'' and forced him to use ad hoc bright arguments to achieve his goal.