The $2$-Selmer group of a number field and heuristics for narrow class groups and signature ranks of units

Abstract: We investigate in detail a homomorphism which we call the 2-Selmer signature map from the $2$-Selmer group of a number field $K$ to a nondegenerate symmetric space, in particular proving the image is a maximal totally isotropic subspace. Applications include precise predictions on the density of fields $K$ with given narrow class group 2-rank and with given unit group signature rank. In addition to theoretical evidence, extensive computations for totally real cubic and quintic fields are presented that match the predictions extremely well. In an appendix with Richard Foote, we classify the maximal totally isotropic subspaces of orthogonal direct sums of two nondegenerate symmetric spaces over perfect fields of characteristic 2 and derive some consequences, including a mass formula for such subspaces.