TITLE: Is $\mathcal{O}_K$ always isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}[X]/(f(x))$, for some irreducible polynomial $f(x)$?
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Given an algebraic number field $K$ and its ring of integers $\mathcal{O}_K$, is $\mathcal{O}_K$ always isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}[X]/(f(x))$, for some irreducible polynomial $f(x)$?
Since $\mathcal{O}_K/\mathcal{m}$ is a finite field  for any non-zero prime ideal $m \subset \mathcal{O}_K$, it is isomorphic to some $\mathbb{F}_p[X]/(\widetilde{f}(x))$. If the statment 1. is true, is it also true that the $\widetilde{f}(x) = f(x) \bmod{p}$, and $\mathcal{O}_K/\mathcal{m} \cong  \mathbb{Z}[X]/(p,f(x)) \cong \mathbb{F}_p[X]/(\widetilde{f}(x))$?

If these are not true for any algebraic number field could you point me in the right direction? I have been reading some notes, that are apparently incomplete, and I would appreciate a reference to where I could find the proofs of these (or the most similar general) statements.

REPLY [9 votes]: Let me elaborate on the "strange" behavior of ring of integers. Let $K$ be an algebraic number field with ring of integers $\mathcal O_K$. Given an algebraic integer $\alpha \in \mathcal O_K$, let us denote by $\mathbf Z[\alpha]$ the $\mathbf Z$-algebra generated by $\alpha$. (This is isomorphic to $\mathbf Z[X]/(f)$, where $f$ is the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$).
Now the basic question is: Does there exist $\alpha \in \mathcal O_K$ such that $\mathcal O_K = \mathbf Z[\alpha]$? (In this case some people say $K$ is monogenic or $K$ admits a power integral basis).
Let $i(\alpha) = [ \mathcal O_K : \mathbf Z[\alpha]]$ be the order of $\mathcal O_K/\mathbf Z[\alpha]$. Does there always exists $\alpha \in \mathcal O_K$ such that $i(\alpha) = 1$ (which is equivalent to $\mathcal O_K = \mathbf Z[\alpha]$)? In general the answer is no. Consider for example the number field $K$ definied by a root of $X^3 + X^2 - 2X - 8 \in \mathbf Z[X]$. Then it is not hard to show that $2$ divides $i(\alpha)$ for all $\alpha \in \mathcal O_K$. In particular we can never have $\mathcal O_K = \mathbf Z[\alpha]$. Already in 1871, Dedekind gave this example and knew about these so called common non-essential discriminant divisor (gemeinsame außerwesentliche Diskriminantenteiler).
These common non-essential discriminant divisors are not the only obstruction. For a deeper investigation of this topic, one can use the so called index form.
I hope this gives you enough information/keywords to find more in the literature. Tell me if you need explicit references.