Elementary and Analytic Theory of Algebraic Numbers

This book is a classic introduction to algebraic number theory. Without demanding great technical prerequisites the book presents a comprehensive and competent picture of algebraic number theory from both the algebraic and analytic points of view. At the end of each chapter there are comments on latest developments. The book also offers an extensive bibliography and a challenging list of yet unsolved problems.

The aim of this book is to present an exposition of the theory of alge braic numbers, excluding class-field theory and its consequences. There are many ways to develop this subject; the latest trend is to neglect the classical Dedekind theory of ideals in favour of local methods. However, for numeri cal computations, necessary for applications of algebraic numbers to other areas of number theory, the old approach seems more suitable, although its exposition is obviously longer. On the other hand the local approach is more powerful for analytical purposes, as demonstrated in Tate's thesis. Thus the author has tried to reconcile the two approaches, presenting a self-contained exposition of the classical standpoint in the first four chapters, and then turning to local methods. In the first chapter we present the necessary tools from the theory of Dedekind domains and valuation theory, including the structure of finitely generated modules over Dedekind domains. In Chapters 2, 3 and 4 the clas sical theory of algebraic numbers is developed. Chapter 5 contains the fun damental notions of the theory of p-adic fields, and Chapter 6 brings their applications to the study of algebraic number fields. We include here Shafare vich's proof of the Kronecker-Weber theorem, and also the main properties of adeles and ideles.

Brings the main principal results in the classical algebraic number theory, with the exception of class-field theory Up-to-date extensive bibliography containing 3400 items Each chapter ends with a selection of exercises, and a list of open problems is also provided Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Klappentext

The aim of this book is to present an exposition of the theory of alge­ braic numbers, excluding class-field theory and its consequences. There are many ways to develop this subject; the latest trend is to neglect the classical Dedekind theory of ideals in favour of local methods. However, for numeri­ cal computations, necessary for applications of algebraic numbers to other areas of number theory, the old approach seems more suitable, although its exposition is obviously longer. On the other hand the local approach is more powerful for analytical purposes, as demonstrated in Tate's thesis. Thus the author has tried to reconcile the two approaches, presenting a self-contained exposition of the classical standpoint in the first four chapters, and then turning to local methods. In the first chapter we present the necessary tools from the theory of Dedekind domains and valuation theory, including the structure of finitely generated modules over Dedekind domains. In Chapters 2, 3 and 4 the clas­ sical theory of algebraic numbers is developed. Chapter 5 contains the fun­ damental notions of the theory of p-adic fields, and Chapter 6 brings their applications to the study of algebraic number fields. We include here Shafare­ vich's proof of the Kronecker-Weber theorem, and also the main properties of adeles and ideles.

Inhalt

1. Dedekind Domains and Valuations.- 2. Algebraic Numbers and Integers.- 3. Units and Ideal Classes.- 4. Extensions.- 5. P-adic Fields.- 6. Applications of the Theory of P-adic Fields.- 7. Analytical Methods.- 8. Abelian Fields.- 9. Factorizations 9.1. 485Elementary Approach.- Appendix I. Locally Compact Abelian Groups.- Appendix II. Function Theory.- Appendix III. Baker's Method.- Problems.- References.- Author Index.- List of Symbols.