On the p-adic limit of class numbers along a pro-p-extension

Abstract: Let

K / k

be a pro-

p

-extension over a number field

k

whose Galois group is finitely generated and

k_{0} s u b s e t e q k_{1} s u b s e t e q c d o t s s u b s e t e q k_{n} s u b s e t e q c d o t s

an ascending sequence of intermediate fields of

K / k

such that

k_{n} / k

is normal,

[k_{n} : k] < i n f t y

and

. We will show by using representation theory of finite groups that the non-

p

-part

h_{n} (p^{'})

of the class number of

k_{n}

converges

p

-adically as

n i g h t a r r o w i n f t y

, and the limit is independent to the choice of

k_{n}

's. Also, in the case where

K / k

is the cyclotomic

m a t h b b Z_{p}

-extension over an abelian number field

k

, we will take an analytic approach and obtain certain enigmatic relationships between the

p

-adic limits of vaious arithmetic invariants along

K / k

, namely, the class number, the ratio of

p

-adic regulator and the square root of the discriminant, and the order of the algebraic

K_{2}

-group of the ring of integers.

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