Cohen-Lenstra distributions via random matrices over complete discrete valuation rings with finite residue fields

Combinatorial aspects of groups and algebras (05E16) Matrices, determinants in number theory (11C20) Asymptotic results on counting functions for algebraic and topological structures (11N45) Random matrices (algebraic aspects) (15B52)

Abstract: Let

(R, m a t h f r a k m)

be a complete discrete valuation ring with the finite residue field

R / m a t h f r a k m = m a t h b b F_{q}

. Given a monic polynomial

P (t) i n R [t]

whose reduction modulo

m a t h f r a k m

gives an irreducible polynomial

, we initiate the investigation of the distribution of

m a t h r m c o k e r (P (A))

, where

A i n m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (R)

is randomly chosen with respect to the Haar probability measure on the additive group

m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (R)

of

n i m e s n

R

-matrices. One of our main results generalizes two results of Friedman and Washington. Our other results are related to the distribution of the

-part of a random matrix

with respect to the uniform distribution, and one of them generalizes a result of Fulman. We heuristically relate our results to a celebrated conjecture of Cohen and Lenstra, which predicts that given an odd prime

p

, any finite abelian

p

-group (i.e.,

m a t h b b Z_{p}

-module)

H

occurs as the

p

-part of the class group of a random imaginary quadratic field extension of

m a t h b b Q

with a probability inversely proportional to

| m a t h r m {A u t}_{m a t h b b Z} (H) |

. We review three different heuristics for the conjecture of Cohen and Lenstra, and they are all related to special cases of our main conjecture, which we prove as our main theorems. For proofs, we use some concrete combinatorial connections between

m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (R)

and

m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q})

to translate our problems about a Haar-random matrix in

m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (R)

into problems about a random matrix in

m a t h r m {M a t}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q})

with respect to the uniform distribution.

Review text

Motivated by conjectures of Cohen and Lenstra on \(p\)-parts of class groups of number fields, Friedman and Washington determined the distribution of the cokernel of \(n \times n\) matrices with entries in \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) chosen with respect to Haar measure [\textit{E. Friedman} and \textit{L. C. Washington}, in: Théorie des nombres, C. R. Conf. Int., Québec/Can. 1987, 227--239 (1989; Zbl 0693.12013)]. More precisely, they show that for any finite abelian \(p\)-group \(H\), \[ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \operatorname{Prob}_{A \in \operatorname{Mat}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)}(\operatorname{coker}(A) \simeq H) = \frac{1}{|\operatorname{Aut}_{\mathbb{Z}}(H)|} \prod_{i=1}^\infty(1-p^{-i}). \] Function field analogues of the Cohen-Lenstra conjectures led Friedman and Washington to also prove that \[ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \operatorname{Prob}_{A \in \operatorname{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)}(\operatorname{coker}(A-\operatorname{id}) \simeq H) = \frac{1}{|\operatorname{Aut}_{\mathbb{Z}}(H)|} \prod_{i=1}^\infty(1-p^{-i}). \] That is, they determine the probability that a random \(A \in \operatorname{Mat}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)\) satisfies both \(\operatorname{coker}(A) = 0\) and \(\operatorname{coker}(A-\operatorname{id}) \simeq H\). The main results of this paper generalize this earlier work. Let \(r \ge 1\) and \(P_1(t),\ldots, P_r(t) \in \mathbb{Z}_p[t]\) be monic irreducible polynomials such that their reductions modulo \(p\) are distinct and irreducible. Suppose that \(\operatorname{deg}(P_r) = 1\). The authors prove that for any finite abelian \(p\)-group \(H\), \[ \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \operatorname{Prob}_{A \in \operatorname{Mat}_n(\mathbb{Z}_p)} \left( \begin{array}{c} \operatorname{coker}(P_1(A)) = \cdots = \operatorname{coker}(P_{r-1}(A)) =0\\ \text{ and } \operatorname{coker}(P_r(A)) \simeq H. \end{array} \right) \] \[ = \frac{1}{|\operatorname{Aut}_{\mathbb{Z}}(H)|} \prod_{j=1}^r \prod_{i=1}^\infty (1-p^{-i \operatorname{deg}(P_j)}).\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \] In fact, the authors prove something more general where \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) can be replaced by any complete DVR with finite residue field. A main step in the arguments is to prove a result about the distribution of the \(\mathbb{F}_q[t]\)-module structure of random matrices over \(\mathbb{F}_q\). An important idea in the proofs is to use a combinatorial tool, the cycle index, and study generating functions that encode information about similarity classes in \(\operatorname{Mat}_n(\mathbb{F}_q)\). The authors also give an interesting general conjecture about the simultaneous behavior of \(\operatorname{coker}(P_1(A)), \ldots, \operatorname{coker}(P_{r}(A))\) that has already motivated further work in this area.

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