On the Spiegelungssatz for the 4-rank (Q990325)

If \(K\) is number field, we denote by \(Cl^+(K)\) the narrow class group of \(K\). Let \(G\) be a finite abelian group and \(p\) a prime number. If \(n\) is a positive integer, \(G^n:=\{g^n, g\in G\}\). The \(p^n\)-rank of \(G\) is defined by: \(\text{rk}_{p^n}(G):=\dim_{\mathbb{F}_p}(G^{p^{n-1}}/G^{p^n})\). Let \(d=1\) or a nonsquare integer. It follows from [\textit{P. Damey} and \textit{J.-J. Payan}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 244, 37--54 (1970; Zbl 0206.34401)] that (Spiegelungssatz (Reflection theorem) for the 4-rank): \[ \text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d}))\leq \text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d}))\leq \text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d}))+1. \] The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the frequency of each the events \[ ``\text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d}))=\text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d}))" \text{ and }``\text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d}))=\text{rk}_4(Cl^+(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d}))+1" \] in a natural probability space. Using an extension of the main result in [\textit{É. Fouvry} and \textit{J. Klüners}, Invent. Math. 167, No. 3, 455--513 (2007; Zbl 1126.11062)], the authors prove, in terms of a natural density, a variant of the main result in [\textit{F. Gerth}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 129, No. 9, 2547--2552 (2001; Zbl 1012.11097)]. A comparison of the above work of Gerth and the authors is given.