A new parametrization for ideal classes in rings defined by binary forms, and applications

Forms of degree higher than two (11E76) Algebraic numbers; rings of algebraic integers (11R04) Class numbers, class groups, discriminants (11R29) Density theorems (11R45) Class groups and Picard groups of orders (11R65) Class groups (13C20)

Review text

Let \(R\) be a principal ideal domain with fraction field \(K\). To any separable binary form \(F(x,y)=\sum_{i=0}^nf_ix^{n-i}y^i\) of degree \(n\geq 1\) over \(R\) with \(f_0\neq 0\), one can associate a subring \(R_F\) inside the étale \(K\)-algebra \(K[x]/(F(x,1))\) which, as an \(R\)-module, is free of rank \(n\) with basis \((1,f_0\theta,f_0\theta^2+f_1\theta,\ldots,f_0\theta^{n-1}+\ldots+f_{n-2}\theta)\), where \(\theta\) is the image of \(x\) in \(K_F\). Furthermore, one considers the fractional \(R_F\)-ideal \(I_F=(1,\theta)\) and its powers \(I^k_F=(I_F)^k\), \(0\leq k\leq n-1\). Geometrically, \(R_F\) can be thought of as the ring of global sections of the subscheme of \(\mathbb{P}_{\mathbb{Z}}^1\) cut out by \(F\). It turns out that when \(n>2\), all ideals \(I^k_F\) are invertible iff \(F\) is primitive. Of particular importance is the ideal \(I^{n-2}_F\) as its class is that of the inverse different of \(R_F\). A good account of the construction and alternative interpretations of \(R_F\) and its fractional ideals \(I^k_F\) can be found in [\textit{M. M. Wood}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 83, No. 1, 208--231 (2011; Zbl 1228.11053)]. It was also [\textit{M. M. Wood}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 689, 169--199 (2014; Zbl 1317.11039)] (extending earlier work by Bhargava in the case \(n=3\)) who showed that, for any \(n\geq 3\), square roots of the class of \(I^{n-3}_F\) can be parametrized by \(\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z})\)-orbits of pairs \((A,B)\in\mathbb{Z}^2\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}}\mathrm{Sym}_2\mathbb{Z}^n\) such that \(\det(xA+yB)=\pm F(x,y)\). These results have generated a series of applications by various authors concerning, among other things, results on the non-existence of rational points on hyperelliptic curves, and on bounds on the average size of the \(2\)-class groups of rings of algebraic integers. As for the latter, the results could only be obtained for \(n\) odd or for monic \(F\) (i.e., \(|f_0|=1\)), the obstruction being that in the other cases, the class of \(I^{n-3}_F\) may not be a square. In the present paper, this problem is overcome by considering \(I^{n-2}_F\) instead, which is always a square when \(n\) is even and also when \(n\) is odd provided \(R_F\) is a maximal order. The author shows that square roots of the class of \(I^{n-2}_F\) can be parametrized as above with the slight modification \(\det(xA+yB)=\pm f_0^{-1}F(x,f_0y)\), where the locus of pairs \((A,B)\) that arise in this way is cut out of the hypersurface \(\det A=\pm 1\) by congruence conditions modulo \(f_0^{n-1}\). As application, the author provides bounds on the average size of the \(2\)-class group in families of number fields defined by binary forms of degree \(n\geq 3\) using a uniform approach that also includes the non-monic even degree case. Other applications (to appear in forthcoming papers by the author) include a proof that most integral odd-degree binary forms fail to primitively represent a square because of the Brauer-Manin obstruction ([the author, ``Most integral odd-degree binary forms fail to properly represent a square, Preprint, \url{arXiv:1910.12409}]) and (jointly with Bhargava and Shankar) a bound on the second moment of the size of the \(2\)-Selmer group of elliptic curves [the author et al., ``The second moment of the size of the \(2\)-Selmer group of elliptic curves, Preprint, \url{arXiv:2110.09063}]). The introduction of the present paper provides a quite readable account on the history of the questions treated herein, on the methods used in their study and on the manifold applications of the results.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(7)

This page was built for publication: A new parametrization for ideal classes in rings defined by binary forms, and applications

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6042647)