A proof of the refined class number formula of Gross (Q6046063)

Let \(F\) be a totally real number field and \(K/F\) a finite abelian extension with Galois group \(G\). Let \(S\), \(T\) be finite sets of places of \(F\), where \(S\) contains all infinite places and all places ramified in \(K/F\), and \(T\) fulfills some further condition. Depending on these data, one can define the Stickelberger element \(\Theta_{S,T,K} \in \mathbb Z[G]\), the regulator \(R_{G,S,T} \in \mathbb Z[G]\) and the augmentation ideal \(I \triangleleft \mathbb Z[G]\). The \textit{class number formula of Gross} is the congruence \[ \Theta_{S,T,K} \equiv R_{G,S,T} \mod I^{\# S}, \] which was conjectured by \textit{B. H. Gross} [J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, Sect. IA Math. 35, No. 1, 177--197 (1988; Zbl 0681.12005)]. The above congruence is implied by Theorem 2 of this paper, which is a strengthening of it modulo some smaller ideal contained in \(I^{\# S}\). Furthermore, Theorem 3 gives an enhancement of Theorem 2. The proofs use Shintani data, and most part of the paper is used to set up these notions and construct three Shintani data, which are needed to prove the theorems. Finally, Theorem 3 is illustrated for the example \(F= \mathbb Q(\sqrt{5})\).