A simple method for estimating the Iwasawa \(\lambda\) -invariant (Q1087914)

For a prime p, let \(\lambda _{\chi}\) denote the \(\lambda\)-invariant of the Iwasawa power series representing the Kubota-Leopoldt p-adic L- function \(L_ p(s,\chi \omega)\), where \(\omega\) is the Teichmüller character mod q \((q=p\) or 4 according as \(p>2\) or \(p=2\), respectively) and where \(\chi\) denotes an odd character, \(\chi \neq \omega ^{-1}\), whose conductor \(f_{\chi}\) is of the form d or dq with \((d,p)=1.\) The following theorem is proved: Let r be a rational integer such that \(qp^{r-1}>2d^ 2\). If \(p=2\) or 3, then \(\lambda _{\chi}<p^{r-1}\). If \(p>3\) and \(f_{\chi}=d\), then \(\lambda _{\chi}<p^{r(p-1)/2}\). The proof is based on a result in the author's previous paper [Math. Ann. 264, 5-8 (1983; Zbl 0497.12002)] and on simple manipulations of some formulas associated to p-adic L-functions.