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Heegner Number


The values of -d for which imaginary quadratic fields Q(sqrt(-d)) are uniquely factorable into factors of the form a+bsqrt(-d). Here, a and b are half-integers, except for d=1 and 2, in which case they are integers. The Heegner numbers therefore correspond to binary quadratic form discriminants -d which have class number h(-d) equal to 1, except for Heegner numbers -1 and -2, which correspond to d=-4 and -8, respectively.

The determination of these numbers is called Gauss's class number problem, and it is now known that there are only nine Heegner numbers: -1, -2, -3, -7, -11, -19, -43, -67, and -163 (OEIS A003173), corresponding to discriminants -4, -8, -3, -7, -11, -19, -43, -67, and -163, respectively. This was proved by Heegner (1952)--although his proof was not accepted as complete at the time (Meyer 1970)--and subsequently established by Stark (1967).

Heilbronn and Linfoot (1934) showed that if a larger d existed, it must be >10^9. Heegner (1952) published a proof that only nine such numbers exist, but his proof was not accepted as complete at the time. Subsequent examination of Heegner's proof show it to be "essentially" correct (Conway and Guy 1996).

The Heegner numbers have a number of fascinating connections with amazing results in prime number theory. In particular, the j-function provides stunning connections between e, pi, and the algebraic integers. They also explain why Euler's prime-generating polynomial n^2-n+41 is so surprisingly good at producing primes.


See also

Binary Quadratic Form Discriminant, Class Number, Gauss's Class Number Problem, j-Function, Prime-Generating Polynomial, Quadratic Field, Ramanujan Constant

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References

Conway, J. H. and Guy, R. K. "The Nine Magic Discriminants." In The Book of Numbers. New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 224-226, 1996.Heegner, K. "Diophantische Analysis und Modulfunktionen." Math. Z. 56, 227-253, 1952.Heilbronn, H. A. and Linfoot, E. H. "On the Imaginary Quadratic Corpora of Class-Number One." Quart. J. Math. (Oxford) 5, 293-301, 1934.Meyer, C. "Bemerkungen zum Satz von Heegner-Stark über die imaginär-quadratischen Zahlkörper mit der Klassenzahl Eins." J. reine angew. Math. 242, 179-214, 1970.Sloane, N. J. A. Sequence A003173/M0827 in "The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences."Stark, H. M. "A Complete Determination of the Complex Quadratic Fields of Class Number One." Michigan Math. J. 14, 1-27, 1967.

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Heegner Number

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Heegner Number." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/HeegnerNumber.html

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