Question

We now present a "( \(1+i\) )-ary gcd algorithm" for Gaussian integers. Let \(\pi:=1+i \in \mathbb{Z}[i] .\) The algorithm takes non-zero \(\alpha, \beta \in \mathbb{Z}[i]\) as input, and runs as follows: $$ \begin{array}{l} \rho \leftarrow \alpha, \rho^{\prime} \leftarrow \beta, e \leftarrow 0 \\ \text { while } \pi \mid \rho \text { and } \pi \mid \rho^{\prime} \text { do } \rho \leftarrow \rho / \pi, \rho^{\prime} \leftarrow \rho^{\prime} / \pi, e \leftarrow e+1 \end{array} $$ repeat while \(\pi \mid \rho\) do \(\rho \leftarrow \rho / \pi\) while \(\pi \mid \rho^{\prime}\) do \(\rho^{\prime} \leftarrow \rho^{\prime} / \pi\) if \(M\left(\rho^{\prime}\right)

Short answer

Answer: The main steps of the algorithm are: 1. Initialize variables and remove common \((1+i)\)-factors from \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\). 2. Remove individual \((1+i)\)-factors from \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\). 3. Order by modulus, checking if \(M\left(\rho^{\prime}\right)<M(\rho)\) and swapping values if necessary. 4. Find \(\varepsilon \in\\{\pm 1, \pm i\\}\) such that \(\rho^{\prime} \equiv \varepsilon \rho(\bmod 2 \pi)\). 5. Subtract \(\varepsilon \rho\) from \(\rho'\) and repeat steps 3-5 until \(\rho^{\prime} = 0\). 6. Calculate the gcd by multiplying \(\pi^e\) with \(\rho\), i.e., \(\delta \leftarrow \pi^{e} \cdot \rho\).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Algorithm Input

We are given an algorithm for finding the gcd of Gaussian integers using \(\pi := 1+i \in \mathbb{Z}[i]\) and input numbers \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\). The algorithm begins with initializing variables \(\rho \leftarrow \alpha\), \(\rho^{\prime} \leftarrow \beta\), and \(e \leftarrow 0\).

Removing Common \((1+i)\)-Factors

For both \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\), we remove any common factors of \(\pi = (1+i)\). We keep doing this by dividing \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\) with \(\pi\) until \(\pi\) doesn't divide either of them anymore. The number of times \(\pi\) was factored out of both is stored in the variable \(e\). In the algorithm, this is done using while loops.

Removing Individual \((1+i)\)-Factors

We will now remove \((1+i)\)-factors individually from \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\) if they are divisible by \(\pi\), by dividing each by \(\pi\). This is done using separate while loops in the algorithm.

Ordering by Modulus

Next, we check whether \(M\left(\rho^{\prime}\right)<M(\rho)\) (where \(M(x)\) represents the modulus of a Gaussian integer). If this is true, we swap the values of \(\rho\) and \(\rho'\).

Equivalent modulo operation

Determine \(\varepsilon \in\\{\pm 1, \pm i\\}\) such that \(\rho^{\prime} \equiv \varepsilon \rho(\bmod 2 \pi)\). This helps with the upcoming subtraction step.

Subtract and Repeat

The algorithm proceeds with subtracting \(\varepsilon \rho\) from \(\rho'\) i.e., \(\rho^{\prime} \leftarrow \rho^{\prime}-\varepsilon \rho\). It will repeat these operations of finding modulo equivalence and subtraction until \(\rho^{\prime} = 0\).

Calculate the gcd

Finally, calculate the gcd by multiplying \(\pi^e\) with \(\rho\), i.e., \(\delta \leftarrow \pi^{e} \cdot \rho\). The gcd of input Gaussian integers \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) is given by the output \(\delta\).

Key concepts

Computational Number Theory

Computational number theory, sometimes also known as algorithmic number theory, is the study of algorithms for performing number theoretic computations. It encompasses a variety of topics related to integers, such as primality testing, factorization, and the computation of functions such as the greatest common divisor (gcd). One of the central tasks in this field is developing efficient algorithms that can handle very large numbers, which are common in areas of cryptography.

When considering Gaussian integers, which are complex numbers where both the real and imaginary parts are integers, computational number theory extends to include operations such as addition, multiplication, and finding gcds in this broader integer context. By understanding how these calculations are performed, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the algorithms involved and their applications in secure communication.

Gaussian Integers

Gaussian integers are a fascinating extension of the ordinary integers we are familiar with. Formally, they are numbers of the form a + bi, where 'a' and 'b' are both integers, and 'i' is the imaginary unit, satisfying the equation i^2 = -1. The set of all Gaussian integers is typically denoted by \(\mathbb{Z}[i]\).

In this mathematical system, we can perform operations similar to those we carry out with regular integers, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with some special considerations. Just like in the traditional integer number system where we seek the greatest common divisor, we can also find the gcd of two Gaussian integers. This yields interesting results as gcd in this number system can be a Gaussian integer itself, reflecting the property of both its magnitude and orientation in the complex plane.

Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)

The greatest common divisor, or gcd, is an important concept in number theory that finds common applications in solving problems related to divisibility, fractions, and integer solutions to equations. It is the largest integer that divides two or more integers without leaving a remainder.

In reference to Gaussian integers, the gcd algorithm must be adapted because we are working within the complex plane rather than on a linear scale. The gcd of Gaussian integers isn't always unique because if \(\gamma\) is a gcd of \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\), then so is \(\epsilon\gamma\), for any unit \(\epsilon\) (i.e., \(\epsilon \in \{\pm 1, \pm i\}\)). This uniqueness up to multiplication by units mirrors the gcd for regular integers but with the added complexity of the Gaussian integers' plane.

Modulus of a Gaussian Integer

The modulus of a Gaussian integer is equivalent to the Euclidean norm and is a key concept in many algorithms involving Gaussian integers. Specifically, if we have a Gaussian integer \(\alpha = a + bi\), the modulus of \(\alpha\) is given by \(M(\alpha) = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}\), the distance from the origin in the complex plane. This modulus function maps each Gaussian integer to a non-negative real number.

Understanding the modulus is crucial for comparing Gaussian integers, such as in the gcd algorithm, where we need to choose between two Gaussian integers based on their moduli. This is where the step involving the comparison \(M(\rho^\prime) < M(\rho)\), in the provided algorithm, helps in ordering the integers for the subtractive process that iteratively reduces the problem until reaching the gcd.