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Find a unit in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$ and show that this field has class number $h=1$.

I am done with the first part which is relatively simple:

Suppose that $\varepsilon$ is a unit in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$. Then we have $\varepsilon=c+b\sqrt[3]{6}+a\sqrt[3]{6^2}$, since the integral base of $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$ can be written as $\{1,\sqrt[3]{6},\sqrt[3]{6^2}\}$. Thus, $\varepsilon=c+b\sqrt[3]{6}+a\sqrt[3]{6^2},$ $\sqrt[3]{6}\varepsilon=6a+c\sqrt[3]{6}+b\sqrt[3]{6^2},$ $\sqrt[3]{6^2}\varepsilon=6b+6a\sqrt[3]{6}+c\sqrt[3]{6^2}.$

As we see it, the system of equations with variable $\varepsilon$ has only zero solution, since $\{1,\sqrt[3]{6},\sqrt[3]{6^2}\}$ is a base. Then $\det\left( \begin{array}{ccc} c-\varepsilon & b & a \\ 6a & c-\varepsilon & b \\ 6b & 6a & c-\varepsilon \\ \end{array} \right) $ is the minimal polynomial of $\varepsilon$. Since $\varepsilon$ is a unit in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$ if and only if $N(\varepsilon)=\pm1$, we take $\varepsilon=0$ in the above polynomial, and $\det\left( \begin{array}{ccc} c & b & a \\ 6a & c & b \\ 6b & 6a & c \\ \end{array} \right)=\pm1. $ Compute the determinant we find that $a=33,~b=60,~c=109$ is one of the solutions. Hence a unit in $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$ is of the form $\varepsilon=109+60\sqrt[3]{6}+33\sqrt[3]{6^2}$.

For the second part of the problem, I have no idea how to show that $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt[3]{6})$ is a principal ideal domain.

Any comment will be appreciated!

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    @KCd, a thousand thanks!2012-03-31

1 Answers 1

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The first idea for computing units in such fields is finding a generator of a purely ramified prime. Here $2 - \sqrt[3]{6}$ has norm $2$, hence $ (2 - \sqrt[3]{6})^3 = 2(1 - 6\sqrt[3]{6} + 3\sqrt[3]{6}^2) $ is $2$ times a unit.

Finding an element generating the prime ideal above $3$ is more difficult, but it turns out that $\beta = 3 + 2\sqrt[3]{6} + \sqrt[3]{6}^2$ is such an element with norm $3$. As above you now get $ (3 + 2\sqrt[3]{6} + \sqrt[3]{6}^2)^3 = 3(109+60\sqrt[3]{6} +33\sqrt[3]{6}^2), $ and you get the unit you mentioned in your question. Actually we have $ \frac1{1 - 6\sqrt[3]{6} + 3\sqrt[3]{6}^2} = 109+60\sqrt[3]{6} +33\sqrt[3]{6}^2 . $ Finding elements of norms $5$ and $7$ is rather easy, which then shows that the ring ${\mathbb Z}[\sqrt[3]{6}]$ is principal.