Class number formulas over global function fields (Q1335252)

Let \(K/\mathbb{F}_ q\) be a global function field with a distinguished \(\mathbb{F}_ q\)-rational point ``\(\infty\)''. Let further \(A\) be the Dedekind ring of elements of \(K\) regular off \(\infty\) and \(K_ \infty\) the completion at \(\infty\). Since the fundamental work of Drinfeld and Hayes it is known that abelian class field theory of \(K\) may explicitly be described through the theory of Drinfeld \(A\)-modules of rank one, in much the same way as the class field theory of \(\mathbb{Q}\) or of an imaginary quadratic field \(\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt {-d})\) is given by the torsion points of the multiplicative group or of an elliptic curve with complex multiplication by \(\mathbb{Q} (\sqrt {-d})\), respectively. Let \(L/K\) be an abelian extension of \(K\) with ring of integers (= integral closure of \(A\) in \(L\)) \(O_ L\). Now as in the above-mentioned ``classical'' cases, there is a straightforward construction of certain units of \(O_ L\), called ``cyclotomic'' or ``elliptic'' units, which is based on the theory of Drinfeld modules. \textit{S. Galovich} and \textit{M. Rosen} [J. Number Theory 13, 363-375 (1981; Zbl 0473.12014), ibid. 14, 156-184 (1982; Zbl 0483.12003)], in the case where \(K= \mathbb{F}_ q (T)\) and ``\(\infty\)'' is the usual place at infinity, and \textit{D. R. Hayes} [Prog. Math. 26, 321-340 (1982; Zbl 0499.12012)], for general \(K\) (but with \(L/K\) unramified) proved formulas that relate the index of the group of cyclotomic (or elliptic) units in \(O_ L^*\) with the class numbers of \(A\) and \(O_ L\). These formulas are analogues of the ``classical'' formulas of Kummer, Sinnott, Ramachandra, Robert. In the present article, a common generalization of the results of Galovich-Rosen and of Hayes is proved. The precise statements, too technical to be repeated here, are given in ``Main Theorems 1 and 2'' as index formulas for the groups of elliptic or cyclotomic units, respectively, in \(O_ L^*\). Similar results have been obtained by \textit{H. Oukhaba} [in `The arithmetic of function fields', D. Goss et al. (ed.), 87-102, de Gruyter, Berlin-New York (1992; Zbl 0804.11042)].