arXiv subjects

Christopher Birkbeck

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher Birkbeck.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Progress in Formalizing Sphere Packing in Dimension 8

In 2016, Viazovska famously solved the sphere packing problem in dimension $8$, using modular forms to construct a 'magic' function satisfying optimality conditions determined by Cohn and Elkies in 2003. In March 2024, Hariharan and Viazovska launched a project to formalize this solution and related mathematical facts in the Lean Theorem Prover. A significant milestone was achieved in February 2026: the result was formally verified, with the final stages of the verification done by Math, Inc.'s autoformalization model 'Gauss'. We discuss the techniques used to achieve this milestone, reflect on the unique collaboration between humans and Gauss, and discuss project objectives that remain.

math.MG↗

arXiv2024

A complete formalization of Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes in Lean

We formalize a complete proof of the regular case of Fermat's Last Theorem in the Lean4 theorem prover. Our formalization includes a proof of Kummer's lemma, that is the main obstruction to Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes. Rather than following the modern proof of Kummer's lemma via class field theory, we prove it by using Hilbert's Theorems 90-94 in a way that is more amenable to formalization.

cs.FL↗

arXiv2023

Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes

We formalise the proof of the first case of Fermat's Last Theorem for regular primes using the \emph{Lean} theorem prover and its mathematical library \emph{mathlib}. This is an important 19th century result that motivated the development of modern algebraic number theory. Besides explaining the mathematics behind this result, we analyze in this paper the difficulties we faced in the formalisation process and how we solved them. For example, we had to deal with a diamond about characteristic zero fields and problems arising from multiple nested coercions related to number fields. We also explain how we integrated our work to \emph{mathlib}.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2021

Overconvergent Hilbert modular forms via perfectoid modular varieties

We give a new construction of $p$-adic overconvergent Hilbert modular forms by using Scholze's perfectoid Shimura varieties at infinite level and the Hodge--Tate period map. The definition is analytic, closely resembling that of complex Hilbert modular forms as holomorphic functions satisfying a transformation property under congruence subgroups. As a special case, we first revisit the case of elliptic modular forms, extending recent work of Chojecki, Hansen and Johansson. We then construct sheaves of geometric Hilbert modular forms, as well as subsheaves of integral modular forms, and vary our definitions in $p$-adic families. We show that the resulting spaces are isomorphic as Hecke modules to earlier constructions of Andreatta, Iovita and Pilloni. Finally, we give a new direct construction of sheaves of arithmetic Hilbert modular forms, and compare this to the construction via descent from the geometric case.

math.NT↗

arXiv2020

On the $p$-adic Langlands correspondence for algebraic tori

We extend the results by R.P. Langlands on representations of (connected) abelian algebraic groups. This is done by considering characters into any divisible abelian topological group. With this we can then prove what is known as the abelian case of the $p$-adic Langlands program.

math.NT↗

arXiv2020

$2$-adic slopes of Hilbert modular forms over $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{5})$

We show that for arithmetic weights with a fixed finite order character, the slopes of $U_p$ (for $p=2$) acting on overconvergent Hilbert modular forms of level $U_0(4)$ are independent of the (algebraic part of the) weight and can be obtained by a simple recipe from the classical slopes in parallel weight $3$.

math.NT↗

arXiv2018

Slopes of overconvergent Hilbert modular forms

We give an explicit description of the matrix associated to the $U_p$ operator acting on spaces of overconvergent Hilbert modular forms over totally real fields. Using this, we compute slopes for weights in the centre and near the boundary of weight space for certain real quadratic fields. \added[id=h]{Near the boundary of weight space we see that the slopes do not appear to be given by finite unions of arithmetic progressions but instead can be produced by a simple recipe from which we make a conjecture on the structure of slopes. We also prove a lower bound on the Newton polygon of the $U_p$.

math.NT↗

arXiv2018

The Jacquet-Langlands correspondence for overconvergent Hilbert modular forms

We use results by Chenevier to interpolate the classical Jacquet-Langlands correspondence for Hilbert modular forms, which gives us an extension of Chenevier's results to totally real fields. From this we obtain an isomorphisms between eigenvarieties attached Hilbert modular forms and those attached to modular forms on a totally definite quaternion algebra over a totally real field of even degree.

math.NT↗

arXiv2017

Extensions of Vector Bundles on the Fargues-Fontaine Curve

We completely classify the possible extensions between semistable vector bundles on the Fargues-Fontaine curve (over an algebraically closed perfectoid field), in terms of a simple condition on Harder-Narasimhan polygons. Our arguments rely on a careful study of various moduli spaces of bundle maps, which we define and analyze using Scholze's language of diamonds. This analysis reduces our main results to a somewhat involved combinatorial problem, which we then solve via a reinterpretation in terms of the euclidean geometry of Harder-Narasimhan polygons.

math.NT↗