On Iwasawa theory, zeta elements for \(\mathbb G_m\), and the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture (Q2404125)

The authors develop the Iwasawa theory attached to the zeta elements they constructed in [Doc. Math. 21, 555--626 (2016; Zbl 1407.11133)] and use it to prove some new cases of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture. Let \(K/k\) be an abelian extension of number fields, let \(k_{\infty}/k\) be a \(\mathbb Z_p\)-extension, and let \(K_{\infty}= Kk_{\infty}\). The authors' higher rank conjecture predicts the existence of a zeta element that serves as an analogue of the classical \(p\)-adic \(L\)-functions for arbitrary number fields and has interpolation properties in terms of the values at 0 of the higher derivatives of abelian \(L\)-functions. This conjecture is also stated in terms of an equality of characteristic ideals of a Selmer module and the quotient of a lattice of unit groups modulo the subgroup generated by Rubin-Stark elements. The authors also conjecture a family of what they call Iwasawa-theoretic Rubin-Stark congruences and explain how these are an extension to arbitrary number fields of the Gross-Stark conjecture, which was made for CM fields. The main result of the article loosely says that if the above conjectures hold then the \(p\)-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture holds. This yields a simpler proof of results of \textit{D. Burns} and \textit{C. Greither} [Invent. Math. 153, No. 2, 303--359 (2003; Zbl 1142.11076)], \textit{M. Flach} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 661, 1--36 (2011; Zbl 1242.11083)], and \textit{W. Bley} [Doc. Math. 11, 73--118; (2006; Zbl 1178.11070)]. The authors also obtain the first proof of the minus part of the \(p\)-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture in some cases when the base field is not \(\mathbb Q\) and the relevant \(p\)-adic \(L\)-functions have trivial zeros. In addition, they give the first verification of the Brumer-Stark conjecture in some such cases.