Binary Quadratic Forms: An Algorithmic Approach

by Johannes Buchmann, Ulrich Vollmer

Overview

The book deals with algorithmic problems related to binary quadratic forms. It uniquely focuses on the algorithmic aspects of the theory. The book introduces the reader to important areas of number theory such as diophantine equations, reduction theory of quadratic forms, geometry of numbers and algebraic number theory. The book explains applications to cryptography and requires only basic mathematical knowledge. The author is a world leader in number theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642079719
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	11/23/2010
Series:	Algorithms and Computation in Mathematics , #20
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2007
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.36(d)

About the Author

Buchmann: Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics
   special areas number theory, computer algebra, cryptography
   associate editor Journal of Cryptology
          Leibniz Award of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
   Author of "Introduction to cryptography" UTM, translated into seven languages
          Member of Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
          Member of Academy of Sciences and Literature, Mainz

Vollmer: Thesis and several articles on algorithms for Class Group and Regulator computation in quadratic fields.

Table of Contents

Binary Quadratic Forms.- Equivalence of Forms.- Constructing Forms.- Forms, Bases, Points, and Lattices.- Reduction of Positive Definite Forms.- Reduction of Indefinite Forms.- Multiplicative Lattices.- Quadratic Number Fields.- Class Groups.- Infrastructure.- Subexponential Algorithms.- Cryptographic Applications.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Quadratic Field Theory is the best platform for the development of a computer viewpoint. Such an idea is not dominant in earlier texts on quadratic forms … . this book reads like a continuous program with major topics occurring as subroutines. The theory appears as ‘program comments,’ accompanied by numerical examples. … An appendix explaining linear algebra (bases and matrices) helps make this work ideal as a self-contained well-motivated textbook for computer-oriented students at any level and as a reference book." (Harvey Cohn, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1125 (2), 2008)

“The book under discussion contains the classical Gauß -Dirichlet representation theory of integral binary quadric forms. … Many of the algorithms presented in this book are described in full detail. The whole text is very carefully written. It is therefore also well suited for beginners as in addition no special knowledge on Number Theory is necessary to understand the text. It can also be recommended to teachers who give courses in Number Theory or Computational Algebra.” (J. Schoissengeier, Monatshefte für Mathematik, Vol. 156 (3), March, 2009)

From the Publisher