Class numbers in cyclotomic \(\mathbb{Z}_p\)-extensions (Q2253875)

For a natural number \(n \in \mathbb N\) and a prime \(p \in \mathbb P\) let \(h_{p,n}\) denote the class number of the maximal real subfield of the cyclotomic field, generated by the \(p^n\)-th roots of unity. By Iwasawa theory one knows that \(p\) does not divide \(h_{p,n}\), and no pair of indices \((p,n)\) is known with \(h_{p,n} \neq 1\). This paper gives a detailed overview of recent results on \(h_{p,n}\) and also discusses Cohen-Lenstra heuristics for cyclotomic \(\mathbb Z_p\)-extensions. It is proved that \(h_{13,1} = h_{17,1} = h_{19,1} = 1\), which was before only known under assuming GRH. The proof uses a method of the author [Acta Arith. 164, No. 4, 381--397 (2014; Zbl 1305.11098)]. Assuming GRH and using SageMathCloud\({}^{\text{TM}}\), the author also obtains that \(h_{29,1} = h_{31,1} = 1\).