Minimal rank of universal lattices and number of indecomposable elements in real multiquadratic fields

Abstract

We establish an upper bound on the number of real multiquadratic fields that admit a universal quadratic lattice of a given rank, or contain a given amount of indecomposable elements modulo totally positive units, obtaining density zero statements. We also study the structure of indecomposable elements in real biquadratic fields, and compute a system of indecomposable elements modulo totally positive units for some families of real biquadratic fields.