Lower bound for class number of certain real quadratic fields

Abstract: Let $d$ be a square-free positive integer and $h(d)$ the class number of the real quadratic field $\mathbb{Q}{(\sqrt{d})}.$ In this paper we give an explicit lower bound for $h(n^2+r)$, where $r=1,4$, and also establish an equivalent criteria to attain this lower bound in terms of special value of Dedekind zeta function. Our bounds enable us to reduce the real quadratic families considered in Chowla and Yokoi's conjecture to comparatively small subfamily. We also give an equivalent criteria for having an alternate proof of both the conjectures. Also applying our results, we obtain some criteria for class group of prime power order to be cyclic.