English

Periodic points of algebraic functions and Deuring's class number formula

Number Theory 2019-10-29 v3

Abstract

The exact set of periodic points in Q\overline{\mathbb{Q}} of the algebraic function F^(z)=(1±1z4)/z2\widehat{F}(z)=(-1\pm \sqrt{1-z^4})/z^2 is shown to consist of the coordinates of certain solutions (x,y)=(π,ξ)(x,y)=(\pi, \xi) of the Fermat equation x4+y4=1x^4+y^4=1 in ring class fields Ωf\Omega_f over imaginary quadratic fields K=Q(d)K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d}) of odd conductor ff, where d1-d \equiv 1 (mod 88). This is shown to result from the fact that the 22-adic function F(z)=(1+1z4)/z2F(z)=(-1+ \sqrt{1-z^4})/z^2 is a lift of the Frobenius automorphism on the coordinates π\pi for which π2<1|\pi|_2<1, for any d7d \equiv 7 (mod 88), when considered as elements of the maximal unramified extension K2\textsf{K}_2 of the 22-adic field Q2\mathbb{Q}_2. This gives an interpretation of the case p=2p=2 of a class number formula of Deuring. An algebraic method of computing these periodic points and the corresponding class equations Hd(x)H_{-d}(x) is given that is applicable for small periods. The pre-periodic points of F^(z)\widehat{F}(z) in Q\overline{\mathbb{Q}} are also determined.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1712.03875,
  title  = {Periodic points of algebraic functions and Deuring's class number formula},
  author = {Patrick Morton},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1712.03875},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

27 pages, 3 tables; A discussion of pre-periodic points has been added to version 1