Non-vanishing of the central derivative of canonical Hecke \(L\)-functions (Q1580355)

Let \(K=\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-D})\) be an imaginary quadratic field of discriminant \(-D<-4\), \(\mathcal O\) its ring of integers and \(h\) its ideal class number. A Hecke character \(\chi\) of \(K\) of conductor \(\mathfrak f\) is called ``canonical'' if (1) \(\chi(\overline{\mathfrak a}) = \overline{\chi(\mathfrak a)}\) for each ideal \(\mathfrak a\) relatively prime to \(\mathfrak f\). (2) \(\chi(\alpha \mathcal O) = \pm \alpha\) for principal ideals \(\alpha \mathcal O\) relatively prime to \(\mathfrak f\). (3) The conductor \(\mathfrak f\) is divisible only by primes dividing \(D\). Let \(L(s,\chi)\) denote the Hecke \(L\)-function of \(\chi\), and \(\Lambda(s,\chi)\) its completion. Then \(\Lambda(s,\chi)\) satisfies the functional equation \[ \Lambda(s,\chi) = W(\chi) \Lambda(2-s,\chi), \] where \(W(\chi) = \pm 1\) is the root number. If \(\chi\) is a canonical Hecke character with \(W(\chi) = 1\), then the central value \(\Lambda(1,\chi) \neq 0\) [see \textit{H. L. Montgomery} and \textit{D. E. Rohrlich}, Duke Math. J. 49, 937-942 (1982; Zbl 0523.12010)]. The main result of this paper is: Theorem: Let \(\chi\) be a canonical Hecke character whose root number \(W(\chi)=-1\). Then the central derivative \(\Lambda'(1,\chi) \neq 0\). The authors also discuss some arithmetic applications of this theorem.