The University of Arizona

Number Theory

The research of the number theory group encompasses classical and algebraic number theory, computational number theory, and especially the modern subject of arithmetic geometry.

Arithmetic geometry is the study of number-theoretic problems informed by the insights of geometry—among them algebraic geometry, topology, differential geometry, and discrete geometries related to graph theory and group theory. Part of the appeal of the subject comes from its combination of easily stated problems (such as: Which integers are the sum of two squares or two cubes? How can one explicitly find all the solutions of an explicit polynomial equation in two variables? Are there positive integers (a,b,c) satisfying a^n+b^n=c^n when n>2?) and breathtaking applications of the latest technology from the mathematical frontiers. Another attraction is the phenomenal progress that has been made in the late 20th and early 21st century, including proofs of such landmark results as the Weil conjectures, the Mordell conjecture, and of course Fermat's last theorem. The number of Fields Medals (the mathematical equivalent of the Nobel prize) awarded for work in the area is a testament to its centrality in modern fundamental mathematics. On the other hand, recent applications of arithmetic geometry to communications protocols (such as strong cryptography and error correcting information transmission schemes) have brought the tools of the field to bear on crucial problems of Internet technology.

Two of the Millenium Prize Problems in mathematics, offered by the Clay Mathematics Institute, are in the area of number theory and one more is closely related to number theory.

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Members

Bryden Cais

Bryden Cais

Member of the Graduate Faculty
Professor
520-621-6892
ENR2 S327
Sungyoon Cho

Sungyoon Cho

Postdoctoral Research Associate I
C. Douglas Haessig

C. Douglas Haessig

Associate Professor, Mathematics
Member of the Graduate Faculty
520-621-6892
ENR2 S350
Serin Hong

Serin Hong

Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Member of the Graduate Faculty
520-626-0416
ENR2 S326
Kirti N Joshi

Kirti N Joshi

Associate Professor, Mathematics
Member of the Graduate Faculty
520-621-2743
MATH 609A
Daniel Madden

Daniel Madden

Associate Professor Emeritus
William G McCallum

William G McCallum

Professor Emeritus
Arvind Suresh

Arvind Suresh

Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Douglas L Ulmer

Douglas L Ulmer

Department Head, Mathematics
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Professor, Mathematics
William Yslas Velez

William Yslas Velez

Professor Emeritus
520-621-6892
ENR2 N212
Hang Xue

Hang Xue

Associate Professor
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Pan Yan

Pan Yan

Postdoctoral Research Associate I