TITLE: Determine all units in $\mathbb{Z}[\omega] := \{a+b\omega\mid a,b\in\mathbf{Z}\}$ where $\omega = \frac{-1 + i \sqrt{3}}{2}$
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Determine all units in $\mathbb{Z}[\omega] := \{a+b\omega\mid a,b\in\mathbf{Z}\}$ where $\omega = \frac{-1 + i \sqrt{3}}{2}$
My Attempt:
$N(a + b\omega) = (a + b \omega)(a - b \omega) = a^2 + \omega^2 b^2$
I'm stuck here. Is my approach correct?

REPLY [4 votes]: The norm is the product of the conjugates, in the sense of algebraic extensions. The conjugate of $\omega$ is the other root of its minimal polynomial $x^2 + x + 1$ – it's $\omega^2$. So $$N(a + b \omega) = a^2 - ab + b^2.$$
Now to have $N(a + b \omega) = 1$, either $a = 0$, so we obtain $\pm \omega$ as units. Or $a \ne 0$, and we can write $a^2 - ab + b^2 = a^2(1 - x + x^2)$, where $x = \frac b a$. 
As $1 - x + x^2\ge \frac 34$, we can have $a^2 - ab + b^2 = 1$ only if $a^2 = 1$. 
If $a = 1$, $a^2 - ab + b^2 = 1 - b + b^2 = 1 \iff b = 0$ or $b = 1$. 
Similarly, if $a = -1$, we find $b = 0$ or $b = -1$. 
At the  end, we find the units are $\pm 1, \pm \omega, \pm \omega^2$. It's a cyclic group, generated by $-\omega$ or $-\omega^2$.