A sufficient condition for Leopoldt's conjecture (Q2565545)

For a finite algebraic number \(k\) and a rational prime number \(p\), Leopoldt's conjecture (LC) states that for any nonnegative integer \(a\), there exists a nonnegative integer \(b\) such that \(E_ k(p^ b)\subseteq E_ k ^ {p^ a}\) where \(E_ k\) denotes the group of units of \(k\) and \(E_ k (p^ b)= \{\varepsilon \in E_ k \mid \varepsilon \equiv 1\bmod p^ b {\mathcal O}_ k\}\). LC is equivalent to LC(\(a\)) for all \(a\geq 0\) where LC(\(a\)) means that there exists a nonnegative integer \(b\) such that \(E_ k(p^ b)\subseteq E_ k^{p^ a}\). For \(p\geq 3\), \textit{K. Iwasawa} [`A simple remark on Leopoldt's conjecture, Collected papers, vol. II, Tokyo: Springer-Verlag, 862--870 (2001; Zbl 1021.01006)] proved the equivalence between LC(\(a\)) and the existence of certain abelian extensions of \(k\) called \(({\mathcal Q}, a)\)-fields. \textit{H. Miki} [J. Number Theory 26, 117--128 (1987; Zbl 0621.12009)] proved that if \(k\) contains a primitive \(p\)-th root of unity \(\zeta_ p\), there exists a unique prime ideal of \(k\) above \(p\) and \(B_ {k,p}(S_ k)=\{1\}\), where \(B_{k,p}(S)=\{\alpha\in k^ \ast\mid \alpha{\mathcal O} _ k ={\mathcal A}^ p\) for some ideal \({\mathcal A}\) of \(k\), and \(\alpha \in (k_ {\mathcal I}^ \ast) ^ p\) for any ideal \({\mathcal I}\) of \(S\}/(k^ \ast)^ p\), and \(S_ k\) denotes the set of prime ideals of \(k\) above \(p\), then LC is valid for \(k\) and \(p\). The main result of the paper under review is that if \(p\geq 3\), \(k\) contains \(\zeta_ p\), and there exists a prime ideal \({\mathcal P}\) in \(k\) dividing \(p\) such that \(B_ {k,p}(\{{\mathcal P}\})= 1\), then for any nonnegative integer \(a\), there exists a nonnegative integer \(b\) such that \(E_ k({\mathcal P}^ b)\subseteq E_ k ^ {p^ a}\). It follows that LC holds for \(k\) and \(p\). The proof of the main result makes use of Iwasawa methods for \(({\mathcal Q},a)\)-fields [loc. cit.]. The non Galois extensions \({\mathbb Q}(\root 5\of x, \zeta _ 3)\) with \(x\in\{2,5,7, 10, 11\}\) and \(p=3\) satisfy LC by the main result of this paper. For other papers related to this one, the reader may consult the papers of \textit{A. Movahhedi} and \textit{T. Nguyen Quang Do} [Sémin. Théor. Nombres, Paris/Fr. 1987-88, Prog. Math. 81, 155--200 (1990; Zbl 0703.11059)] and of \textit{J.-F. Jaulent} and \textit{O. Sauzet} [J. Number Theory 65, No. 2, 240--267 (1997; Zbl 0896.11043)].