On the rank of a free pro-\(p\)-extension of a number field (Q699478)

Fix an algebraic number field \(k\) and a prime number \(p\) (assume that \(-1\) is a square in \(k\) if \(p=2\)). Denote by \(\rho\) the largest integer such that there exists a Galois extension \(L/k\) whose Galois group is pro-\(p\)-free of rank \(\rho\). It is not hard to see that such an extension is unramified outside \(p\)-adic primes. Accordingly, if \(k\) satisfies Leopoldt's conjecture at the prime \(p\) (i.e. the number of independent \({\mathbb Z}_p\)-extensions of \(k\) is equal to \(1+r_2\)), then the rank \(\rho\) is bounded, under this conjecture, by \(1+r_2\), where \(r_2\) is the number of complex places of \(k\). Let \(k_{S_p}\) be the maximal pro-\(p\) extension of \(k\), unramified outside \(p\)-adic primes. The number field \(k\) is called \(p\)-rational if the Galois group \(G(k_{S_p}/k)\) is pro-p-free of rank \(1+r_2\) [\textit{A. Movahhedi} and \textit{T. Nguyen Quang Do}, Prog. Math. 81, 155-200 (1990; Zbl 0703.11059)]. For instance, cyclotomic fields \({\mathbb Q}(\mu_{p^n})\) are \(p\)-rationals if and only if \(p\) is a regular prime. Thus \(p\)-rational fields provide us with number fields for which the equality \(\rho=1+r_2\) holds. Conversely, under standard conjectures of Iwasawa theory, it has been established that \(p\)-rational number fields are the only fields for which the equality \(1+r_2=\rho\) holds [\textit{A. Lannuzel} and \textit{T. Nguyen Quang Do}, Manuscr. Math. 102, 187-209 (2000; Zbl 0983.11063)]. At the same time, there exist examples for which \(\rho<1+r_2\) [\textit{M. Yamagishi}, J. Théor. Nombres Bordx. 5, 165-178 (1993; Zbl 0784.11052)]. This paper focuses on the difference \(1+r_2-\rho\), which is expressed therein in terms of various standard Iwasawa modules. There is also a local-global formula as follows: for a \(p\)-adic prime \(v\) of \(k\), fix a prime \(w\) of \(L\) above \(v\) and denote by \(F_v\) the decomposition group of \(L/k\) at \(w\). Denote by \(\rho_v\) the rank of the free pro-\(p\)-group \(F_v\). Assume that \(L\) contains all \(p\)-primary roots of unity. Then, under Leopoldt's conjecture, the author also expresses the difference \(1+r_2-\rho - \sum_{v\mid p} (n_v/2+1-\rho_v)\) as the dimension, over the finite field \({\mathbb F}_p\), of some Galois cohomology group. Here \(n_v\) is the degree of the local extension \(k_v/{\mathbb Q}_p\).