The definite quadratic forms in eight variables with determinant unity (Q2645861)

It is shown that there are exactly two classes of positive definite forms (with integer coefficients) in eight variables, of determinant unity, namely the properly primitive class represented by \(x_1^2+ \ldots +x_8^2\), and the improperly primitive class represented by \[ x_1^2+ \ldots +x_8^2+ (x_1 + \ldots + x_8)^2 - 2 x_1 x_2 - 2 x_2x_8. \] The latter form had been isolated by \textit{A. Korkine} and \textit{G. Zolotareff} [Math. Ann. 6, 366--389 (1873; JFM 05.0109.01)]. Use is made of theorems due to \textit{H. F. Blichfeldt} [Math. Z. 39, 1--15 (1934; Zbl 0009.24403, JFM 60.0924.04)] and \textit{N. Hofreiter} [Monatsh. Math. Phys. 40, 129--152 (1933; Zbl 0006.39401, JFM 59.0217.03] that the minimum of a positive definite form in \(n\) variables and of determinant \(A\) is \(\leq \root n\of {\lambda_nA}\), where \(\lambda_6 = 64/3\), \(\lambda_7 = 64\), \(\lambda_8= 256\); and that if equality holds in the case \(n = 6\), the form is equivalent to \[ \sqrt{A/3}\, [x_1^2+ \ldots +x_6^2 +(x_1 + \ldots + x_6)^2 - 2x_1x_2 - 2x_2 x_6]. \] Also reviewed in JFM 64.0106.02.