Algebraic Number Theory

The present book gives an exposition of the classical basic algebraic and analytic number theory and supersedes my Algebraic Numbers, including much more material, e. g. the class field theory on which 1 make further comments at the appropriate place later. For different points of view, the reader is encouraged to read the collec­ tion of papers from the Brighton Symposium (edited by Cassels-Frohlich), the Artin-Tate notes on class field theory, Weil's book on Basic Number Theory, Borevich-Shafarevich's Number Theory, and also older books like those of W eber, Hasse, Hecke, and Hilbert's Zahlbericht. It seems that over the years, everything that has been done has proved useful, theo­ retically or as examples, for the further development of the theory. Old, and seemingly isolated special cases have continuously acquired renewed significance, often after half a century or more. The point of view taken here is principally global, and we deal with local fields only incidentally. For a more complete treatment of these, cf. Serre's book Corps Locaux. There is much to be said for a direct global approach to number fields. Stylistically, 1 have intermingled the ideal and idelic approaches without prejudice for either. 1 also include two proofs of the functional equation for the zeta function, to acquaint the reader with different techniques (in some sense equivalent, but in another sense, suggestive of very different moods).

The present book gives an exposition of the classical basic algebraic and analytic number theory and supersedes my Algebraic Numbers, including much more material, e. g. the class field theory on which 1 make further comments at the appropriate place later. For different points of view, the reader is encouraged to read the collec­ tion of papers from the Brighton Symposium (edited by Cassels-Frohlich), the Artin-Tate notes on class field theory, Weil's book on Basic Number Theory, Borevich-Shafarevich's Number Theory, and also older books like those of W eber, Hasse, Hecke, and Hilbert's Zahlbericht. It seems that over the years, everything that has been done has proved useful, theo­ retically or as examples, for the further development of the theory. Old, and seemingly isolated special cases have continuously acquired renewed significance, often after half a century or more. The point of view taken here is principally global, and we deal with local fields only incidentally. For a more complete treatment of these, cf. Serre's book Corps Locaux. There is much to be said for a direct global approach to number fields. Stylistically, 1 have intermingled the ideal and idelic approaches without prejudice for either. 1 also include two proofs of the functional equation for the zeta function, to acquaint the reader with different techniques (in some sense equivalent, but in another sense, suggestive of very different moods).

The present book gives an exposition of the classical basic algebraic and analytic number theory and supersedes my Algebraic Numbers, including much more material, e. g. the class field theory on which 1 make further comments at the appropriate place later. For different points of view, the reader is encouraged to read the collec­ tion of papers from the Brighton Symposium (edited by Cassels-Frohlich), the Artin-Tate notes on class field theory, Weil's book on Basic Number Theory, Borevich-Shafarevich's Number Theory, and also older books like those of W eber, Hasse, Hecke, and Hilbert's Zahlbericht. It seems that over the years, everything that has been done has proved useful, theo­ retically or as examples, for the further development of the theory. Old, and seemingly isolated special cases have continuously acquired renewed significance, often after half a century or more. The point of view taken here is principally global, and we deal with local fields only incidentally. For a more complete treatment of these, cf. Serre's book Corps Locaux. There is much to be said for a direct global approach to number fields. Stylistically, 1 have intermingled the ideal and idelic approaches without prejudice for either. 1 also include two proofs of the functional equation for the zeta function, to acquaint the reader with different techniques (in some sense equivalent, but in another sense, suggestive of very different moods).

The present book gives an exposition of the classical basic algebraic and analytic number theory and supersedes my Algebraic Numbers, including much more material, e. g. the class field theory on which 1 make further comments at the appropriate place later. For different points of view, the reader is encouraged to read the collec­ tion of papers from the Brighton Symposium (edited by Cassels-Frohlich), the Artin-Tate notes on class field theory, Weil's book on Basic Number Theory, Borevich-Shafarevich's Number Theory, and also older books like those of W eber, Hasse, Hecke, and Hilbert's Zahlbericht. It seems that over the years, everything that has been done has proved useful, theo­ retically or as examples, for the further development of the theory. Old, and seemingly isolated special cases have continuously acquired renewed significance, often after half a century or more. The point of view taken here is principally global, and we deal with local fields only incidentally. For a more complete treatment of these, cf. Serre's book Corps Locaux. There is much to be said for a direct global approach to number fields. Stylistically, 1 have intermingled the ideal and idelic approaches without prejudice for either. 1 also include two proofs of the functional equation for the zeta function, to acquaint the reader with different techniques (in some sense equivalent, but in another sense, suggestive of very different moods).

From the review: "The present book has as its aim to resolve a discrepancy in the textbook literature and ... to provide a comprehensive introduction to algebraic number theory which is largely based on the modern, unifying conception of (one-dimensional) arithmetic algebraic geometry. ... Despite this exacting program, the book remains an introduction to algebraic number theory for the beginner... The author discusses the classical concepts from the viewpoint of Arakelov theory.... The treatment of class field theory is ... particularly rich in illustrating complements, hints for further study, and concrete examples.... The concluding chapter VII on zeta-functions and L-series is another outstanding advantage of the present textbook.... The book is, without any doubt, the most up-to-date, systematic, and theoretically comprehensive textbook on algebraic number field theory available." W. Kleinert in: Zentralblatt für Mathematik , 1992

This introduction to algebraic number theory discusses the classical concepts from the viewpoint of Arakelov theory. The treatment of class theory is particularly rich in illustrating complements, offering hints for further study, and providing concrete examples. It is the most up-to-date, systematic, and theoretically comprehensive textbook on algebraic number field theory available.