Provides an introduction to quadratic forms.

This proceedings volume contains papers presented at the International Conference on the algebraic and arithmetic theory of quadratic forms held in Talca (Chile). The modern theory of quadratic forms has connections with a broad spectrum of mathematical areas including number theory, geometry, and K-theory. This volume contains survey and research articles covering the range of connections among these topics. The survey articles bring readers up-to-date on research and open problems in representation theory of integral quadratic forms, the algebraic theory of finite square class fields, and developments in the theory of Witt groups of triangulated categories. The specialized articles present important developments in both the algebraic and arithmetic theory of quadratic forms, as well as connections to geometry and K-theory. The volume is suitable for graduate students and research mathematicians interested in various aspects of the theory of quadratic forms.

This book is divided into two parts. The first part is preliminary and consists of algebraic number theory and the theory of semisimple algebras. There are two principal topics: classification of quadratic forms and quadratic Diophantine equations. The second topic is a new framework which contains the investigation of Gauss on the sums of three squares as a special case. To make the book concise, the author proves some basic theorems in number theory only in some special cases. However, the book is self-contained when the base field is the rational number field, and the main theorems are stated with an arbitrary number field as the base field. So the reader familiar with class field theory will be able to learn the arithmetic theory of quadratic forms with no further references.

This monograph presents the central ideas of the arithmetic theory of quadratic forms in self-contained form, assuming only knowledge of the fundamentals of matric theory and the theory of numbers. Pertinent concepts of p -adic numbers and quadratic ideals are introduced. It would have been possible to avoid these concepts, but the theory gains elegance as well as breadth by the introduction of such relationships. Some results, and many of the methods, are here presented for the first time. The development begins with the classical theory in the field of reals from the point of view of representation theory; for in these terms, many of the later objectives and methods may be revealed. The successive chapters gradually narrow the fields and rings until one has the tools at hand to deal with the classical problems in the ring of rational integers. The analytic theory of quadratic forms is not dealt with because of the delicate analysis involved. However, some of the more important results are stated and references are given.

This volume presents a collection of articles that are based on talks delivered at the International Conference on the Algebraic and Arithmetic Theory of Quadratic Forms held in Frutillar, Chile in December 2007. The theory of quadratic forms is closely connected with a broad spectrum of areas in algebra and number theory. The articles in this volume deal mainly with questions from the algebraic, geometric, arithmetic, and analytic theory of quadratic forms, and related questions in algebraic group theory and algebraic geometry.

This volume contains the proceedings of the International Workshop on Diophantine Methods, Lattices, and Arithmetic Theory of Quadratic Forms. The articles cover the arithmetic theory of quadratic forms and lattices, as well as the effective Diophantine analysis with height functions.

In this book, award-winning author Goro Shimura treats new areas and presents relevant expository material in a clear and readable style. Topics include Witt's theorem and the Hasse principle on quadratic forms, algebraic theory of Clifford algebras, spin groups, and spin representations. He also includes some basic results not readily found elsewhere. The two principle themes are: (1) Quadratic Diophantine equations; (2) Euler products and Eisenstein series on orthogonal groups and Clifford groups. The starting point of the first theme is the result of Gauss that the number of primitive representations of an integer as the sum of three squares is essentially the class number of primitive binary quadratic forms. Presented are a generalization of this fact for arbitrary quadratic forms over algebraic number fields and various applications. For the second theme, the author proves the existence of the meromorphic continuation of a Euler product associated with a Hecke eigenform on a Clifford or an orthogonal group. The same is done for an Eisenstein series on such a group. Beyond familiarity with algebraic number theory, the book is mostly self-contained. Several standard facts are stated with references for detailed proofs. Goro Shimura won the 1996 Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement for "his important and extensive work on arithmetical geometry and automorphic forms".

Quadratic forms are presented in a pictorial way, elucidating many topics in algebra, number theory and geometry.

In the last decade, the areas of quadratic and higher degree forms have witnessed dramatic advances. This volume is an outgrowth of three seminal conferences on these topics held in 2009, two at the University of Florida and one at the Arizona Winter School. The volume also includes papers from the two focused weeks on quadratic forms and integral lattices at the University of Florida in 2010.Topics discussed include the links between quadratic forms and automorphic forms, representation of integers and forms by quadratic forms, connections between quadratic forms and lattices, and algorithms for quaternion algebras and quadratic forms. The book will be of interest to graduate students and mathematicians wishing to study quadratic and higher degree forms, as well as to established researchers in these areas. Quadratic and Higher Degree Forms contains research and semi-expository papers that stem from the presentations at conferences at the University of Florida as well as survey lectures on quadratic forms based on the instructional workshop for graduate students held at the Arizona Winter School. The survey papers in the volume provide an excellent introduction to various aspects of the theory of quadratic forms starting from the basic concepts and provide a glimpse of some of the exciting questions currently being investigated. The research and expository papers present the latest advances on quadratic and higher degree forms and their connections with various branches of mathematics.