An extension of the first-order Stark conjecture (Q1024967)

Let \(K/k\) be a finite abelian extension of number fields and let \(S\) be a finite set of primes in \(k\) containing the infinite and ramified primes. For a character \(\chi\) of the Galois group of \(K/k\), let \(L_S(s,\chi)\) denote the imprimitive Artin \(L_S\)-function. The first-order Stark conjecture predicts the existence of an \(S\)-unit \(\varepsilon\) in \(K\) which evaluates \(L_S'(0,\chi)\) (by the well-known formula) for all \(\chi\) and generates, on taking an \(n\)th root with a suitable \(n\), an abelian extension of \(k\). For this conjecture one assumes that \(|S|\geq 2\) and \(S\) contains a prime \(v_0\) that splits completely in \(K\). This is sufficient to guarantee that all the \(L_S\)-functions have at least a first-order zero at \(s=0\). The present author extends this conjecture by replacing the assumption about the existence of \(v_0\) just by the assumption that \(L_S(0,\chi)=0\) for every \(\chi\). Under some additional conditions on \(S\), the unit \(\varepsilon\) will then be replaced by a suitable product of units from the intermediate fields of \(K/k\). The author proves that this extended conjecture contains the original conjecture as a special case and, on the other hand, follows from the original conjecture in several situations. In particular, he discusses the cases in which \(K\) is a multiquadratic extension of \(k\) or a cyclotomic extension of \(\mathbb Q\).