Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This is an expository introduction to p-adic L-functions and the foundations of Iwasawa theory.We focus on Kubota-Leopoldt's p-adic analogue of the Riemann zeta function, which we describe in three different ways.We first present a measure-theoretic (analytic) p-adic interpolation of special values of the Riemann zeta function.Next, we describe Coleman's (arithmetic) construction via cyclotomic units.Finally, we examine Iwasawa's (algebraic) construction via Galois modules over the Iwasawa algebra.The Iwasawa Main Conjecture, now a theorem due to Mazur and Wiles, says that these constructions agree.We will state the conjecture precisely, and give a proof when p is a Vandiver prime (which conjecturally covers every prime).Throughout, we discuss generalisations of these constructions and their connections to modern research directions in number theory.
Source: Essential Number Theory
Authors: Joaquín Rodrigues Jacinto, Chris Williams
Institution: University of Nottingham
Language: English
Subfield: Mathematical Physics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4409120066