On the Class Numbers of Algebraic Number Fields

Abstract

Let K be a number field of degree n over ℚ and let d, h, and R be the absolute values of the discriminant, class number, and regulator of K, respectively. It is known that if K contains no quadratic subfield, then $$ h\;R\gg \frac{d^{1/2}}{ \log d}, $$ where the implied constant depends only on n. In Theorem 1, this lower estimate is improved for pure cubic fields. Consider the family $$ {\mathcal{K}}_n $$ , where K ∈ $$ {\mathcal{K}}_n $$ if K is a totally real number field of degree n whose normal closure has the symmetric group S n as its Galois group. In Theorem 2, it is proved that for a fixed n ≥ 2, there are infinitely many K ∈ $$ {\mathcal{K}}_n $$ with $$ h\gg {d}^{1/2}{\left( \log \log d\right)}^{n-1}/{\left( \log d\right)}^n, $$ where the implied constant depends only on n. This somewhat improves the analogous result h ≫ d 1/2/(log d) n of W. Duke [MR 1966783 (2004g:11103)].