Gross' conjecture for extensions ramified over four points of \(\mathbb P^1\) (Q2433585)

\loadeufm Let \(K\) be a congruence function field and let \(L/K\) be a finite abelian extension with Galois group \(G={\roman {Gal}}(L/K)\). Let \(S\) be a finite non-empty set of places of \(K\) containing the places ramified in \(L\). Fix a finite non-empty set \(T\) of places of \(K\) such that \(S\cap T =\emptyset\). For each character \(\chi \in \widehat{G}\), the modified \(L\)-function is defined by \[ L_ {S,T}(\chi, s)=L_ S (\chi, s)\prod _ {{\mathfrak q}\in T} (1 -\chi(\phi_ {\mathfrak q})(N {\mathfrak q})^ {1-s}), \] where \(L_ S(\chi,s)= \sum_ {{\mathfrak A}\subseteq {\mathcal O} _ S}\widehat{\chi}({\mathfrak A})N({\mathfrak A})^ {-s}\) is the usual \(L\)-function for \(S\). Here for a prime ideal \({\mathfrak p}\) in \({\mathcal O}_ S\), the ring of \(S\)-integers, \(\widehat{\chi}({\mathfrak p})= \chi(\phi_{{\mathfrak p}})\) where \(\phi_{{\mathfrak p}}\) is the Frobenius element at \({\mathfrak p}\) and \(\widehat{\chi}\) extends in a natural way to any ideal in \({\mathcal O}_ S\). The associated Stickelberger element \(\theta _ {S,T} \in {\mathbb C}[G]\) is given by the property \[ \chi(\theta_{S,T}) = L_ {S,T}(\chi, 0), \quad \chi\in\widehat{G}. \] We have that \(\theta_ {S,T}\in {\mathbb Z}[G]\). Let \(I\) be the augmentation ideal of \({\mathbb Z}[G]\). Gross' conjecture [\textit{B. H. Gross}, J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 35, No. 1, 177--197 (1988; Zbl 0681.12005)] says that \[ \theta_ {S,T}\equiv (- 1)^ {| T| -1} h_ {S,T} \det{}_ G (\lambda_{S,T})\bmod I^{| S| } \] where \(h_ {S,T}\) is the order of the ray class group modulo \(T\) and \(\det_ G(\lambda_{S,T})\) is the Gross regulator. In [J. Math. Sci., Tokyo 10, No. 1, 119--138 (2003; Zbl 1060.11079)], \textit{M. Reid} proved Gross' conjecture for \(K={\mathbb F}_ q(x)\), the rational function field, the set \(S\) consists of \(3\) degree one places and \(T\) is a set such that the greatest common divisor of their degrees is relatively prime to \(q-1\). In the paper under review, the author generalizes the result of Reid to the case that \(S\) consists of \(4\) degree one places and \(T\) is as above. The main result is consequence of an special case which proof is base on expressing the difference of both sides of the conjecture as certain polynomials which is equal to a sum of several products and after reducing it, it is used some congruence relations to show that it is actually zero. The author remarks that it seems that one can use a similar method to deal with the case where \(S\) consists of \(n\) degree one places for any given \(n\) but in this case the complexity of the computation will increase rapidly with \(n\).