Construction of \(\mathbb Z_p\) with prescribed Iwasawa \(\lambda\)-invariants (Q852534)

Let \(K/k\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-extension of a number field \(k\) (\(p\) a fixed prime number) and let \(k_n\) be its layers. For any \(n\) let \(A(k_n)\) be the \(p\)-part of the ideal class group of \(k_n\,\). Then a celebrated theorem of Iwasawa states that there exist non-negative integers \(\mu(K/k)\), \(\lambda(K/k)\) and \(\nu(K/k)\) such that \[ | A(k_n)| = p^{\mu(K/k)p^n +\lambda(K/k)n +\nu(K/k)}\quad \text{for any } n\gg 0. \] A natural problem is the one of finding a \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-extension with prescribed Iwasawa \(\mu\) and \(\lambda\)-invariants. The case \(\mu\geq 0\) and \(\lambda =0\) has been solved in \textit{M. Ozaki} [J. Math. Soc. Japan 56, No.~3, 787--801 (2004; Zbl 1142.11368)] and the present paper deals with the case \(\mu=0\) and \(\lambda \geq 0\). Under the hypothesis of the existence of certain quadratic imaginary fields with prescribed \(\lambda\)-invariants, using class field theory and Kida's formula the authors are able to prove the existence of CM fields \(k\) with cyclotomic \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-extension \(k_\infty\) such that \[ \varprojlim_n A(k_n) \simeq \mathbb{Z}_p^m \;\text{ i.e. } \mu(k_\infty/k)=0\;\text{ and} \;\lambda(k_\infty/k)=m \text{ (any } m). \] Due to the limited amounts of computations currently avaliable for the \(\lambda\)-invariants of quadratic imaginary fields, the result is completely proved only for \(p=2\), 3 and 5.