Number Theory in Function Fields

Michael Rosen

ISBN 10: 1441929541 / ISBN 13: 9781441929549

Published by Springer New York, Springer US Dez 2010, 2010

About this Item

Neuware -Elementary number theory is concerned with the arithmetic properties of the ring of integers, Z, and its field of fractions, the rational numbers, Q. Early on in the development of the subject it was noticed that Z has many properties in common with A = IF[T], the ring of polynomials over a finite field. Both rings are principal ideal domains, both have the property that the residue class ring of any non-zero ideal is finite, both rings have infinitely many prime elements, and both rings have finitely many units. Thus, one is led to suspect that many results which hold for Z have analogues of the ring A. This is indeed the case. The first four chapters of this book are devoted to illustrating this by presenting, for example, analogues of the little theorems of Fermat and Euler, Wilson's theorem, quadratic (and higher) reciprocity, the prime number theorem, and Dirichlet's theorem on primes in an arithmetic progression. All these results have been known for a long time, but it is hard to locate any exposition of them outside of the original papers. Algebraic number theory arises from elementary number theory by con sidering finite algebraic extensions K of Q, which are called algebraic num ber fields, and investigating properties of the ring of algebraic integers OK C K, defined as the integral closure of Z in K.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 376 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9781441929549

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Number Theory in Function Fields
• Publisher: Springer New York, Springer US Dez 2010
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1441929541
• ISBN 13: 9781441929549
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu

About this title

Synopsis

This book studies the relationship between number theory in algebraic number fields and algebraic function fields. Because function fields are a bit different from number fields, even the experienced number theorist will learn from this book. Algebraic geometers will like the book, since the geometry of curves over an algebraically closed field is both pretty and elementary. Michael Rosen is the author of the successful book "A Classical Introduction to Modern Number Theory." He is the recipient of the 1999 Chauvenet Prize for his article "Niels Hendrik Abel and Equations of the Fifth Degree."

From the Back Cover

Elementary number theory is concerned with arithmetic properties of the ring of integers. Early in the development of number theory, it was noticed that the ring of integers has many properties in common with the ring of polynomials over a finite field. The first part of this book illustrates this relationship by presenting, for example, analogues of the theorems of Fermat and Euler, Wilsons theorem, quadratic (and higher) reciprocity, the prime number theorem, and Dirichlets theorem on primes in an arithmetic progression. After presenting the required foundational material on function fields, the later chapters explore the analogy between global function fields and algebraic number fields. A variety of topics are presented, including: the ABC-conjecture, Artins conjecture on primitive roots, the Brumer-Stark conjecture, Drinfeld modules, class number formulae, and average value theorems.
The first few chapters of this book are accessible to advanced undergraduates. The later chapters are designed for graduate students and professionals in mathematics and related fields who want to learn more about the very fruitful relationship between number theory in algebraic number fields and algebraic function fields. In this book many paths are set forth for future learning and exploration.
Michael Rosen is Professor of Mathematics at Brown University, where hes been since 1962. He has published over 40 research papers and he is the co-author of A Classical Introduction to Modern Number Theory, with Kenneth Ireland. He received the Chauvenet Prize of the Mathematical Association of America in 1999 and the Philip J. Bray Teaching Award in 2001.