On Carlitz's \(q\)-Bernoulli numbers (Q1172101)

Bernoulli numbers and polynomials can be used to define \(p\)-adic analogues of the classical zeta function and \(L\)-functions (as an integral of a simple function with respect to a measure that is a regularization of a Bernoulli distribution, see [the author, \(p\)-adic numbers, \(p\)-adic analysis, and zeta-functions. Graduate Texts in Mathematics. 58. New York etc.: Springer-Verlag (1977; Zbl 0364.12015)]. In this paper the author generalizes the above by starting with \(q\)-extensions of Bernoulli numbers and polynomials defined by \textit{L. Carlitz} [Duke Math. J. 15, 987--1000 (1948; Zbl 0032.00304)] (here \(q\) is a \(p\)-adic number of the form \(1+t\) where \(| t|_p<p^{1/(1-p)}\)). He obtains \(p\)-adic \(q\)-\(L\)-functions \(L_{p;q}(s,\chi)\) interpolating certain values connected with the \(q\)-Bernoulli numbers, for which \(\lim_{q\to 1} L_{p;q}(s,\chi)\) is the Kubota-Leopoldt \(p\)-adic \(L\)-function. Also generalizations of the well known Kummer congruences are obtained.