The unit signature rank deficiency is unbounded over cyclotomic fields (Q2245102)

Given a totally real number field \(F\) of degree \(n\), the \textit{unit signature rank deficiency} \(\delta(F)\) is defined by \(n\) minus the rank of the group of signatures of the units of \(F\). This also equals the rank of the group of totally positive units modulo all squares of units. By class field theory one knows that \(\delta(F)\) is non-decreasing in extensions of totally real number fields. To prove the result indicated in the title, the authors consider pairwise different primes \(q_1, q_2, \dots, q_{2t}\), all congruent to \(3\) mod \(4\). Then they show that the fundamental units of \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt{q_{2i-1} q_{2i}})\) are independent modulo squares of units in the compositum \(L\) of these quadratic subfields, so \(t \le \delta(L) \le \delta(\mathbb Q(\zeta_N)^+)\) with \(N=\prod_{i=1}^{2t} q_i\). The authors use, as they call it, ``\(m\)-technology'', a method employed by \textit{T. Kubota} [Nagoya Math. J. 10, 65--85 (1956; Zbl 0074.03001)] for bicyclic biquadratic number fields.