On the 4-rank of the tame kernel \(K_2(\mathcal O)\) in positive definite terms (Q5935872)

The authors give an efficient method for computing the 4-rank of the tame kernel of certain quadratic extensions by determining whether a number is represented by a positive definite binary quadratic form. Let \(p\) be a prime number, \(p\equiv 7\pmod 8\) and \(\ell\equiv 1\pmod 8\) a prime number satisfying \(({p\over\ell}) =({\ell\over p})=1\). Let \(E=\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt d)\) where \(d=p\ell\) or \(2p\ell\), and let \(F=\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt d)\) where \(d=-p\ell\) or \(-2p\ell\). Then 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_E)=1\) or 2 and 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_F)=0\) or 1. Using the techniques of \textit{J. Hurrelbrink} and \textit{M. Kolster} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 499, 145-188 (1998; Zbl 1044.11100)], the authors prove (Proposition 4.5) that 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_E)=2\), if and only if \(({u+w\over\ell}) =1\) and 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_F)=1\) if and only if \(({u+w\over \ell})=1\) where \(u,w\in \mathbb{Z}\) satisfy \(u^2-2w^2=d\). Using class field theory, the Legendre symbol criterion can be translated into a criterion involving representability by certain positive definite binary forms. For example, the authors prove (Theorem 5.2): Let \(p\equiv 7\pmod 8\), \(\ell\equiv 1\pmod 8\) be primes with \(({p\over \ell}) =({\ell\over p})=1\). Let \(E=\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt{p\ell})\). Let \(h\) be the class number of the field \(K=\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt{-2p})\). Then 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_e)=1\) if and only if \(\ell^{h/4}= 2n^2+pm^2\) for some \(n,m\in \mathbb{Z}\) with \(m\not \equiv 0\pmod \ell\) and 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_E)=2\) if and only if \(\ell^{h/4}= n^2+2pm^2\) for some \(n,m\in \mathbb{Z}\) with \(m\not\equiv 0\pmod \ell\). In a final section of the paper, the authors use these results to estimate, for \(p=7\), the density of primes \(\ell\) for which 4-rank \(K_2({\mathcal O}_E)=2\) or 4-rank \(K_2( {\mathcal O}_F)=1\).