The ideal class group of the \(Z_{23}\)-extension over the rational field (Q2268707)

For an odd prime \(p\), let \({\mathbb B}_\infty\) denote the \({\mathbb Z}_p\)-extension of the rational field. In several papers the first author and later both authors jointly have studied the \(l\)-class group of \({\mathbb B}_\infty\) for primes \(l\) which are primitive roots mod \(p^2\). After the last paper in this series, published in [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 80, No. 1, 47--57 (2010; Zbl 1214.11125)], we know that this group is trivial for \(p \leq 19\). In the present article the authors continue this study and obtain the same result for \(p=23\). They use the method of their earlier work, combining an arithmetic study of the analytic class number formula with numerical calculations performed by a personal computer.