Elliptic units, indices and \(\mathbb Z_p\)-extensions (Q1017377)

For an abelian extension \(F\) of an imaginary quadratic number field \(k\), \textit{K. Rubin}'s group of elliptic units \(C_F\) [Invent. Math. 103, No. 1, 25--68 (1991; Zbl 0737.11030)] plays a key role in the construction of an Euler system and Rubin's proof of the Main Conjecture of Iwasawa theory for \(k.\) In this paper, the author aims to study the quotient \([{\mathcal O}_F^\ast : C_F]/h_F,\) first at the level of \(F\), then along a \({\mathbb Z}_p\)-extension \(F_\infty/F\) which is abelian over \(k\). For this, he constructs ``à la Kubert-Lang'' [\textit{D. S. Kubert} and \textit{S. Lang}, Modular units. New York etc: Springer-Verlag (1981; Zbl 0492.12002)] another group \(\Omega_F\) of elliptic units for which he is able to estimate \([{\mathcal O}_F^\ast : \Omega_F].\) His index formula involves, among other parameters, the class number \(h_F,\) the discriminant \(d(F),\) a factor \(12\;w_k\, e_{\mathfrak f}\) (where \(w_k\) is the order of the group \(u_k\) of roots of unity in \(k\) and \({\mathfrak f}\) is the conductor of \(F)\) and a generalized index \([R_F : U_F],\) where \(R_F\;=\;{\mathbb Z} [\text{Gal}\;(F/{\mathbb Q})]\) and \(U_F\) a certain submodule of \({\mathbb Q}[G_F]\) whose definition is related to that of \(\Omega_F\) but is too technical to be recalled here. If \(F\) contains the Hilbert class-field of \(k,\) Rubin's index \([{\mathcal O}^\ast_F : C_F]\) can be related to the author's index \([{\mathcal O}^\ast_F : \Omega_F]\) via (among other parameters) a generalized index \([\Omega_F : V_F],\) where \(V_F\;=\;\mu_F\;C_F^{12\;w_k\, e_{\mathfrak f}}.\) This allows to study the variation of the quotients \([{\mathcal O}^\ast_{F_n} : C_{F_n}]/h_{F_n}\) along \(F_\infty = \displaystyle\mathop\cup_{n \geq 0} F_n.\) The author shows two asymptotic formulae resp. for \(\log_p\;[R_{F_n} : U_{F_n}]\) and \(\log_p\;[\Omega_{F_n} : V_{F_n}],\) from which he derives that for \(n >> 0,\) \(\log_p\;[{\mathcal O}^\ast_{F_n} : C_{F_n}] - \log_p\, h_{F_n} = \mu_\infty\;p^n + \nu,\;\mu_\infty \in {\mathbb N},\;\nu \in {\mathbb Z}.\) Note that \(\mu_\infty = 0\) if a certain decomposition hypothesis is satisfied, but \(\mu_\infty \not= 0\) for the anticyclotomic \({\mathbb Z}_p\)-extension of \(F\) [the author, Tôhoku Math. J. (2) 61, No. 2, 253--265 (2009; Zbl 1231.11066).