Consider the multiplicative group of for . A homomorphism between the 2 groups is called a Dirichlet Character modulus q if :
, i.e. is completely multiplicative (also directly by property of homomorphism)
, i.e. is periodic with period q
Remark:
For every , we defined a trivial character as . This is also called principle character mod q.
Since by the fact that and Euler’s theorem, , .
Thus , is a th roots of unity.
Dirichlet character mod 4
Table of Dirichlet character mod 4
Even/Odd Character
A Dirichlet character is called even if and odd if .
It is clear that the trivial character is even.
If p is prime, then is cyclic.
Let p be a prime.
Remark: the generator(s) of is called primitive roots modulus p.
If , then .
1+2=1
1+2=1
Dirichlet Theorem
For any natural number q, and a reduced residue class a (mod q), there are infinitely many primes p ≡ a (mod q).
Namely,
Dirichlet L-function
For with , the Dirichlet L-function attached to character is defined as .
Remark:
The Riemann zeta‐function is a special case of L-function where the character attached is the trivial character, namely
Dirichlet L-function is absolutely convergent for .
Just as the Riemann zeta‐function, the Dirichlet L-function can also be analytically continued to a meromorphic function with simple pole at and statisfied the functional equation.