On the divisor function and class numbers of real quadratic fields. I (Q750511)

The author intends to generalize a result of \textit{F. Halter-Koch} [J. Number Theory 34, 82--94 (1990; Zbl 0697.12007)], and provides lower bounds for class numbers \(h(d)\) of real quadratic fields \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt{d})\) of narrow Richaud-Degert type (i.e. \(d=a^ 2+r\), \(r=\pm 1,\pm 4)\) in terms of the divisor function \(\tau(x)\) which means the number of distinct positive divisors of \(x\). He proves for instance that if \(d=a^ 2+1\) \((a>1\) odd) then \(h(d)\geq 2\tau(a)-2\).