Generalized Fermat equation over number fields

Abstract

Let $K$ be a number field with ring of integers ${\mathcal{O}}_K$, and let $A,B,C\in {\mathcal{O}}_K\setminus \{0\}$. Denote by $S_K^{\prime }$ the set of prime ideals of ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ dividing $2ABC$. Assuming two standard conjectures concerning the modularity of mod-$p$ Galois representations and the Eichler-Shimura correspondence over number fields, we study the asymptotic behavior of the generalized Fermat equation $A{x}^p+B{y}^p+C{z}^p=0$ over $K$. Using the modular method, we establish an asymptotic criterion in terms of the solutions of the associated $S_K^{\prime }$-unit equation. As an application, we obtain asymptotic results for certain imaginary quadratic fields $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d})$. In particular, for a family of squarefree integers $d$, we determine the relevant $S_K^{\prime }$-unit solutions explicitly and deduce that the generalized Fermat equation has no asymptotic solutions. Finally, we show that this family of squarefree integers has relative density $5/6$ among all squarefree positive integers.

15 pages. Comments and suggestions are welcome