A characterization of half-factorial orders in algebraic number fields (Q7030673)

Let \(\mathfrak O\) be an order in an algebraic number field \(K\) with ring of integers \(\mathfrak O_K\). The main result of this paper characterizes when \(\mathfrak O\) is half-factorial, this means, for any element \(a \in \mathfrak O\) every factorization of \(a\) into irreducibles has the same number of factors. Such results were up to now only known for the cases that \(K\) is a quadratic number field or \(\mathfrak O\) is a semi-normal order.\N\NThe characterization involves the prime ideals \(\mathfrak P_i\) of \(\mathfrak O_K\), which divide the conductor \(\mathfrak f\) of \(\mathfrak O\) and the underlying prime ideals \(\mathfrak p_i = \mathfrak P_i \cap \mathfrak O\).\N\NThe proof uses the localizations at these primes, and also a result of \textit{F. Kainrath} [Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 241, 316--324 (2005; Zbl 1069.11047)], which characterizes half-factorial local orders.\N\NFinally, some examples are given to show that none of the conditions in the main result is superfluous.