English

The enumeration of finite rings

Combinatorics 2022-05-06 v2 Group Theory Rings and Algebras

Abstract

Let pp be a fixed prime. We show that the number of isomorphism classes of finite rings of order pnp^n is pαp^\alpha, where α=427n3+O(n5/2)\alpha=\frac{4}{27}n^3+O(n^{5/2}). This result was stated (with a weaker error term) by Kruse and Price in 1969; a problem with their proof was pointed out by Knopfmacher in 1973. We also show that the number of isomorphism classes of finite commutative rings of order pnp^n is pβp^\beta, where β=227n3+O(n5/2)\beta=\frac{2}{27}n^3+O(n^{5/2}). This result was stated (again with a weaker error term) by Poonen in 2008, with a proof that relies on the problematic step in Kruse and Price's argument.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2107.13215,
  title  = {The enumeration of finite rings},
  author = {Simon R. Blackburn and K. Robin McLean},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2107.13215},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

31 pages. Change of title, revised appendix, and various other small changes since previous version