On the mean number of 2-torsion elements in the class groups, narrow class groups, and ideal groups of cubic orders and fields

Given any family of cubic fields defined by local conditions at finitely many primes, we determine the mean number of 2-torsion elements in the class groups and narrow class groups of these cubic fields when ordered by their absolute discriminants. For an order $\cal O$ in a cubic field, we study the three groups: $\rm Cl_2(\cal O)$, the group of ideal classes of $\cal O$ of order 2; $\rm Cl^+_2(\cal O)$, the group of narrow ideal classes of $\cal O$ of order 2; and ${\cal I}_2(\cal O)$, the group of ideals of $\cal O$ of order 2. We prove that the mean value of the difference $|\rm Cl_2({\cal O})|-\frac14|{\cal I}_2(\cal O)|$ is always equal to $1$, whether one averages over the maximal orders in real cubic fields, over all orders in real cubic fields, or indeed over any family of real cubic orders defined by local conditions. For the narrow class group, we prove that the mean value of the difference $|\rm Cl^+_2({\cal O})|-|{\cal I}_2(\cal O)|$ is equal to $1$ for any such family. For any family of complex cubic orders defined by local conditions, we prove similarly that the mean value of the difference $|\rm Cl_2(\mathcal O)|-\frac12|{\cal I}_2(\cal O)|$ is always equal to $1$, independent of the family. The determination of these mean numbers allows us to prove a number of further results as by-products. Most notably, we prove---in stark contrast to the case of quadratic fields---that: 1) a positive proportion of cubic fields have odd class number; 2) a positive proportion of real cubic fields have isomorphic 2-torsion in the class group and the narrow class group; and 3) a positive proportion of real cubic fields contain units of mixed real signature. We also show that a positive proportion of real cubic fields have narrow class group strictly larger than the class group, and thus a positive proportion of real cubic fields do not possess units of every possible real signature.Comment: 17 page

Computing special values of partial zeta functions

We discuss computation of the special values of partial zeta functions associated to totally real number fields. The main tool is the \emph{Eisenstein cocycle} $\Psi$, a group cocycle for $GL_{n} (\Z )$; the special values are computed as periods of $\Psi$, and are expressed in terms of generalized Dedekind sums. We conclude with some numerical examples for cubic and quartic fields of small discriminant.Comment: 10 p

Electric field and exciton structure in CdSe nanocrystals

Quantum Stark effect in semiconductor nanocrystals is theoretically investigated, using the effective mass formalism within a $4\times 4$ Baldereschi-Lipari Hamiltonian model for the hole states. General expressions are reported for the hole eigenfunctions at zero electric field. Electron and hole single particle energies as functions of the electric field ($\mathbf{E}_{QD}$) are reported. Stark shift and binding energy of the excitonic levels are obtained by full diagonalization of the correlated electron-hole Hamiltonian in presence of the external field. Particularly, the structure of the lower excitonic states and their symmetry properties in CdSe nanocrystals are studied. It is found that the dependence of the exciton binding energy upon the applied field is strongly reduced for small quantum dot radius. Optical selection rules for absorption and luminescence are obtained. The electric-field induced quenching of the optical spectra as a function of $\mathbf{E}_{QD}$ is studied in terms of the exciton dipole matrix element. It is predicted that photoluminescence spectra present anomalous field dependence of the emission lines. These results agree in magnitude with experimental observation and with the main features of photoluminescence experiments in nanostructures.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl