Quadratic extensions of number fields with elementary abelian 2-prim \(K_2(O_F)\) of smallest rank (Q584317)

Call a number field \(F\) 2-regular if the 2-Sylow of its ``regular kernel'' is trivial (i.e. \[ \mathbb{Z}_ 2\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}} K_2(O_F)\simeq (\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})^{r_F}, \] where \(r_F\) is the number of real places of \(F)\). The author proves that, for a totally real quadratic extension \(E/F\) of number fields, one has: \(E\) is 2-regular \(\Leftrightarrow\) \(F\) is 2-regular and \(E/F\) satisfies some standard ramification properties (``primitive ramification''), and she gives some known arithmetical properties of such fields. Remark. These results have been proved, in the general situation, four years ago, in the same Journal, but assuming Leopoldt's conjecture [the reviewer, ibid. 23, 322--335 (1986; Zbl 0589.12010)], where, for instance, the list of all abelian \(\ell\)-regular \(\ell\)-extensions of \(\mathbb{Q}\) \((\ell = 2,3)\) is given), and the hypothesis concerning Leopoldt's conjecture has been removed by the reviewer and \textit{J.-F. Jaulent} [Math. Z. 202, No. 3, 343--365 (1989; Zbl 0704.11040)], where ``\(\ell\)-rational fields'' and their \(\ell\)-extensions are also characterized, extending results of Miki, Movahhedi and others.