On the rank of universal quadratic forms over real quadratic fields

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Abstract: We study the minimal number of variables required by a totally positive definite diagonal universal quadratic form over a real quadratic field mathbbQ(sqrtD) and obtain lower and upper bounds for it in terms of certain sums of coefficients of the associated continued fraction. We also estimate such sums in terms of D and establish a link between continued fraction expansions and special values of L-functions in the spirit of Kronecker's limit formula.


Consider a real quadratic field \(\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{D})\) with discriminant \(\Delta\) and let \(m(D)\) be the minimal number of variables required by a totally positive definite diagonal universal quadratic form. Let \(\omega_D= \sqrt{D}\) resp. \({1+\sqrt{D}\over 2}\) (for \(D\equiv 2,3\mod 4\), resp. \(D\equiv 1\mod 4\)) and \(\omega_D= [u_0,\overline{u_1,u_2,\dots, u_s}]\) the periodic continued fraction expression with \(s\) minimal. If \(s\) is odd, let \(M_D= u_1+\dots +u_s\). The authors obtain lower and upper bounds for \(\omega(D)\), e.g., \(\omega(D)\leq 8M_D\) if \(s\) is odd and \(M_D\leq c\sqrt{\Delta}(\log\Delta)^2\) for an absolute constant \(c>0\). Furthermore, they establish a link between \(M_D\) and special values of \(L\)-functions in the spirit of Kronecker's limit formula: \[ M_D\sim {\sqrt{\Delta}\over \zeta^{(\Delta)}(2)} \Biggl(L(D)+{1\over h} L(1,\chi_\Delta)\log\sqrt{D}\Biggr). \]




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