Improved techniques for computing the ideal class group and a system of fundamental units in number fields

Abstract

We describe a new algorithm for computing the ideal class group, the regulator and a system of fundamental units in number fields under the generalized Riemann hypothesis. We use sieving techniques adapted from the number field sieve algorithm to derive relations between elements of the ideal class group, and p-adic approximations to manage the loss of precision during the computation of units. This new algorithm is particularily efficient for number fields of small degree for which a speed-up of an order of magnitude is achieved with respect to the standard methods.