On \(\lambda\)-invariants of \(\mathbb{Z}_\ell\)-extensions over real abelian number fields of prime power conductors (Q714396)

Greenberg's conjecture establishes that if \(k/{\mathbb Q}\) is a totally real number field, then Iwasawa invariants \(\mu_{\ell}(k), \lambda_{\ell}(k)\) vanish for every prime number \(\ell\). Although there are numerous works on Greenberg's conjecture, there is no example of a totally real number field \(k\) other than \({\mathbb Q}\) such that both \(\mu_{\ell}(k)\) and \(\lambda_{\ell}(k)\) vanish for all prime numbers. Similarly, there is no known prime number \(\ell\) such that \(\mu_{\ell}(k)\) and \(\lambda_{\ell}(k)\) vanish for all totally real number fields \(k\). On the other hand there exist some cases satisfying Greenberg's conjecture. For instance, if \(\ell=2\), there exist infinitely many real quadratic fields \(k\) with odd class number in which \(2\) is not decomposed. Also, if \(k\) is any real quadratic field, there exist infinitely many prime numbers \(\ell\) which do not divide the class number of \(k\) and are not decomposed in \(k\). In these two families we have \(\mu_{\ell}(k)=\lambda_{\ell}(k)=0\) as a consequence of a result of \textit{K. Iwasawa} [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 20, 257--258 (1956; Zbl 0074.03002)]. In this paper, the authors consider the following two problems: 1. For a fixed \(\ell\), find an infinite family of totally real number fields \(k\) such that \(\mu_{\ell}(k)=\lambda_{\ell}(k)=0\). 2. For a fixed totally real number field \(k\), find an infinitely family of prime numbers \(\ell\) such that \(\mu_{\ell}(k)=\lambda_{\ell} (k)=0\). The authors contribute to the first problem. They consider \(k\) an abelian extension of \({\mathbb Q}\), so by the Ferrero-Washington result [\textit{B. Ferrero} and \textit{L. Washington}, Ann. Math. (2) 109, 377--395 (1979; Zbl 0443.12001)], \(\mu_{\ell}(k)=0\). For a prime number \(p\) and an integer \(m\), let \({\mathbb B}_{p,m}\) the \(m\)--th layer of the cyclotomic \({\mathbb Z}_p\)--extension of \({\mathbb Q}\). Let \(\ell\) be a prime number less than \(10^4\). The main results of this paper are: Theorem 1. We have \(\lambda_{\ell}({\mathbb B}_{2,m})=0\) for all \(m\geq 0\). Theorem 2. We have \(\lambda_{\ell}({\mathbb B}_{3,m})=0\) for all \(m\geq 0\). Some special cases of these results were known. For instance, if \(\ell^2\not\equiv 1\bmod 16\), then there is only one prime ideal of \({\mathbb B}_{2,m}\) lying above \(\ell\) and the class number of \({\mathbb B}_{2,m}\) is prime to \(\ell\). Iwasawa's theorem shows that \(\lambda_{\ell}({\mathbb B}_{2,m})=0\) for all \(m\geq 0\). Also, if \(\ell^2\not\equiv 1\bmod 9\), then there is only one prime ideal of \({\mathbb B}_{3,m}\) lying above \(\ell\) and the class number of \({\mathbb B}_{3,m}\) is prime to \(\ell\). Hence Iwasawa's theorem again shows \(\lambda_{\ell}({\mathbb B}_{3,m})=0\) for all \(m\geq 0\).