Counting cubic extensions with given quadratic resolvent (Q630867)

Fix a number field \(k\) and an extension \(K_2/k\) of degree \(\leq 2\). The authors count the number \(N(K_2/k,x)\) of isomorphism classes of cubic extensions \(K/k\) with the property that the normal closure \(N/k\) of \(K/k\) contains \(K_2\) and such that the norm of the relative discriminant of \(K/k\) is less than \(x\). They start with the observation that it is sufficient to count the number \(M(K_2/k,x)\) of fields with the above property such that the norm of the conductor of \(K/k\) is less than \(x\). The main results in the special case where \(k = \mathbb Q\) are as follows. If \(K_2 = \mathbb Q(\sqrt{-3}\,)\), then \(K\) is a pure cubic number field, and \[ M(K_2/\mathbb Q,x) = C_1 x(\log x + C_2 - 1) + O(x^{2/3 + \varepsilon}) \] for every \(\varepsilon > 0\) and suitable explicitly given constants \(C_1, C_2\) not depending on \(\varepsilon\). If \(K_2 \neq \mathbb Q(\sqrt{-3}\,)\), then \[ M(K_2/\mathbb Q,x) = C x + O(x^{2/3 + \varepsilon}). \] Similar, but less strong (the error term is \(O(x^{\alpha})\) for some \(\alpha < 1\)) and more technical statements are proved in the general case where \(k\) is a cubic extension of \(\mathbb Q\).