There are also quadratic reciprocity laws in rings other than the integers.
In his second monograph on biquadratic reciprocity[1] Gauss stated quadratic reciprocity for the ring Z[i] of Gaussian integers, saying that it is a corollary of the biquadratic law in Z[i], but did not provide a proof of either theorem. Dirichlet[2] showed that the law in Z[i] can be deduced from the law for Z without using biquadratic reciprocity. (See the articles on Gaussian integer and biquadratic reciprocity for definitions and notations).
For an odd Gaussian prime π and a Gaussian integer α, gcd(α, π) = 1, define the quadratic character for Z[i] by the formula
Let λ = a + b i and μ = c + d i be distinct Gaussian primes where a and c are odd and b and d are even. Then
where is the Jacobi symbol for Z.
Eisenstein integers
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The ring of Eisenstein integers is Z[ω], where is a cube root of 1. (See the articles on Eisenstein integer and cubic reciprocity for definitions and notations).
For an Eisenstein prime π, Nπ ≠ 3 and an Eisenstein integer α, gcd(α, π) = 1, define the quadratic character for Z[ω] by the formula
Let λ = a + b ω and μ = c + d ω be distinct Eisenstein primes where a and c are not divisible by 3 and b and d are divisible by 3. Eisenstein proved[3]
where is the Jacobi symbol for Z.
Imaginary quadratic fields
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The laws in Z[i] and Z[ω] are special cases of more general laws that hold for the ring of integers in any imaginary quadratic field. Let k be an imaginary quadratic number field with ring of integers where is an integral basis.
For a prime ideal of with an odd norm and a define the quadratic character for by the formula
and for define
For with odd norm Nν, define (ordinary) integers a, b, c, d by the equations
and define a function χ(ν) where ν has odd norm by
If m = Nμ and n = Nν are both odd, Herglotz proved[4]
Also, if [5]
Polynomials over a finite field
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Let F be a finite field with q = pn, n ≥ 1 elements, where p is an odd prime number, and let F[x] be the ring of polynomials in one variable with coefficients in F. If and f is irreducible, monic, and has positive degree, define the quadratic character for F[x] in the usual manner:
If is a product of monic irreducibles let
Dedekind[6] proved that if are monic and have positive degrees,
The attempt to generalize quadratic reciprocity for powers higher than the second was one of the main goals that led 19th century mathemmaticians, inclcuding Gauss, Dirichlet, Jacobi, Eisenstein, Dedekind, and Kummer to the study of general algebraic number fields and their rings or integers,[7] and specifically to Kummer's invention of ideals.
In his famous address to the Paris Congress of Mathematicians in 1900 HIlbert asked for the
"Proof of the most general reciprocity law for an arbitrary number field"[8]. Artin did so in 1927, building upon work by Takagi, Hasse, and others.[9]
The links below provide more detailed discussions of these theorems.
- ^ Gauss, BQ § 60
- ^ Lemmermeyer, Prop. 5.1 p.154; Ireland & Rosen, ex. 26 p. 64
- ^ Lemmermeyer, Thm. 7.10, p. 217
- ^ Lemmermeyer, Thm 8.15, p.256 ff
- ^ Lemmermeyer Thm. 8.18, p. 260
- ^ Bach & Shallit, Thm. 6.7.1
- ^ Lemmermeyer, p. 15, and Edwards, pp.79–80 both make strong cases that the study of higher reciprocity was much more important as a motivation than Fermat's Last Theorem was
- ^ Lemmermeyer, p. viii
- ^ Lemmermeyer, p. ix ff