Classical congruences for parameters in binary quadratic forms (Q5927541)

Let \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-k})\) be an imaginary quadratic field with discriminant \(-k\) and class number \(h\), with \(k\neq 3, 4\), or \(8\). Let \(p\) be a rational prime which splits in \({\mathbb Q}(\sqrt{-k})\). There are integers \(C,D\), unique up to sign, such that \(4p^h=C^2+kD^2\), \(p\nmid C\). In 1890, Stickelberger gave a congruence for \(C\) modulo \(p\) which extends classical results of Gauss, Jacobi, and Eisenstein. He also gave a congruence modulo \(k\), but only for prime \(k\). The author proves an extension that holds for all \(k.\)