A \(p\)-adic \(L\)-function of two variables (Q1347833)

For a primitive Dirichlet character \(\chi\), the author introduces a two-variable \(p\)-adic \(L\)-function \(L_p(s,t;\chi)\) which for \(t=0\) reduces to the usual \(L_p(s,\chi)\). This function interpolates the values \[ L_p(1-n,t;\chi) = -\tfrac 1{n}\left(B_{n,\chi_n}(pt) - \chi_n(p)p^{n-1}B_{n,\chi_n}(t)\right) \] for \(n=1,2,\dots\) (with a certain modification for \(p=2\)), where \(B_{n,\chi}(t)\) denotes the \(n\)th generalized Bernoulli polynomial associated to \(\chi\). Moreover, \(\chi_n=\chi\omega^{-n}\), where \(\omega\) is the cyclotomic or Teichmüller character. As for the domain of definition of \(L_p(s,t;\chi)\), the variable \(s\) assumes its traditional values while \(t\) is any number in the integer ring of \(\mathbb{C}_p\). The construction of \(L_p(s,t;\chi)\) is done in a way essentially similar to the classical construction of \(L_p(s,\chi)\) by Kubota and Leopoldt. Some extra effort is required to extend the \(t\)-domain from the integers in the algebraic closure of \(\mathbb{Q}_p\) to those in the whole \(\mathbb{C}_p\). A Laurent expansion at \(s=1\) is provided; the function turns out to be analytic with the same exception for \(\chi=1\) as in the one-variable case. Several interesting properties of the function, including the symmetry property \(L_p(s, -t;\chi)= \chi(-1)L_p(s,t;\chi)\), are derived. As an application there are, among other things, new Kummer type congruences for generalized Bernoulli numbers.