On rings of integers generated by their units

We give an affirmative answer to the following question by Jarden and Narkiewicz: Is it true that every number field has a finite extension L such that the ring of integers of L is generated by its units (as a ring)? As a part of the proof, we generalize a theorem by Hinz on power-free values of polynomials in number fields.Comment: 15 page

Sums of units in function fields II - The extension problem

In 2007, Jarden and Narkiewicz raised the following question: Is it true that each algebraic number field has a finite extension L such that the ring of integers of L is generated by its units (as a ring)? In this article, we answer the analogous question in the function field case. More precisely, it is shown that for every finite non-empty set S of places of an algebraic function field F | K over a perfect field K, there exists a finite extension F' | F, such that the integral closure of the ring of S-integers of F in F' is generated by its units (as a ring).Comment: 12 page

Schanuel's theorem for heights defined via extension fields

Let $k$ be a number field, let $\theta$ be a nonzero algebraic number, and let $H(\cdot)$ be the Weil height on the algebraic numbers. In response to a question by T. Loher and D. W. Masser, we prove an asymptotic formula for the number of $\alpha \in k$ with $H(\alpha \theta)\leq X$. We also prove an asymptotic counting result for a new class of height functions defined via extension fields of $k$. This provides a conceptual framework for Loher and Masser's problem and generalizations thereof. Moreover, we analyze the leading constant in our asymptotic formula for Loher and Masser's problem. In particular, we prove a sharp upper bound in terms of the classical Schanuel constant.Comment: accepted for publication by Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa Cl. Sci., 201

Rational points and non-anticanonical height functions

A conjecture of Batyrev and Manin predicts the asymptotic behaviour of rational points of bounded height on smooth projective varieties over number fields. We prove some new cases of this conjecture for conic bundle surfaces equipped with some non-anticanonical height functions. As a special case, we verify these conjectures for the first time for some smooth cubic surfaces for height functions associated to certain ample line bundles.Comment: 16 pages; minor corrections; Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society, 147 (2019), no. 8, 3209-322

Generalised divisor sums of binary forms over number fields

Estimating averages of Dirichlet convolutions $1 \ast \chi$, for some real Dirichlet character $\chi$ of fixed modulus, over the sparse set of values of binary forms defined over $\mathbb{Z}$ has been the focus of extensive investigations in recent years, with spectacular applications to Manin's conjecture for Ch\^atelet surfaces. We introduce a far-reaching generalization of this problem, in particular replacing $\chi$ by Jacobi symbols with both arguments having varying size, possibly tending to infinity. The main results of this paper provide asymptotic estimates and lower bounds of the expected order of magnitude for the corresponding averages. All of this is performed over arbitrary number fields by adapting a technique of Daniel specific to $1\ast 1$. This is the first time that divisor sums over values of binary forms are asymptotically evaluated over any number field other than $\mathbb{Q}$. Our work is a key step in the proof, given in subsequent work, of the lower bound predicted by Manin's conjecture for all del Pezzo surfaces over all number fields, under mild assumptions on the Picard number

On Manin's conjecture for a certain singular cubic surface over imaginary quadratic fields

We prove Manin's conjecture over imaginary quadratic number fields for a cubic surface with a singularity of type E_6.Comment: 16 pages. Both this article and arXiv:1304.3352 provide applications of arXiv:1302.615

Arithmetic progressions in binary quadratic forms and norm forms

We prove an upper bound for the length of an arithmetic progression represented by an irreducible integral binary quadratic form or a norm form, which depends only on the form and the progression's common difference. For quadratic forms, this improves significantly upon an earlier result of Dey and Thangadurai.Comment: 7 pages; minor revision; to appear in BLM

Forms of differing degrees over number fields

Consider a system of polynomials in many variables over the ring of integers of a number field $K$. We prove an asymptotic formula for the number of integral zeros of this system in homogeneously expanding boxes. As a consequence, any smooth and geometrically integral variety $X\subseteq \mathbb{P}_K^m$ satisfies the Hasse principle, weak approximation and the Manin-Peyre conjecture, if only its dimension is large enough compared to its degree. This generalizes work of Skinner, who considered the case where all polynomials have the same degree, and recent work of Browning and Heath-Brown, who considered the case where $K=\mathbb{Q}$. Our main tool is Skinner's number field version of the Hardy-Littlewood circle method. As a by-product, we point out and correct an error in Skinner's treatment of the singular integral.Comment: 23 pages; minor revision; to appear in Mathematik