On Gekeler's conjecture for function fields (Q5931318)

Gekeler's conjecture states that non-triviality of isotypical components for the Teichmüller character of the \(p\)-primary class group of the ring of integers in a totally real cyclotomic function field \(F\) (tensored with a Witt ring) is implied by divisibility of Bernoulli-Carlitz numbers [for a precise formulation, see \textit{E.-U. Gekeler}, J., Number Theory 34, 114-127 (1990; Zbl 0695.12008)]. Here, it is shown that this conjecture follows from an incongruence for the regulator of \(F\) (via a class number congruence in the style of Metsänkylä's). Incongruence is true for certain quadratic \(F\), but not for general \(F\). The author constructs some more families for which it is true, and hence he can for example translate (via Gekeler's conjecture, then a theorem) the divisibility of the class number of certain cubic function fields over \({\mathbb F}_q\) into a set of numerical congruences involving only \(q\).