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For the real p-power cyclotomic tower, take norm limits of local principal units and closed cyclotomic-unit subgroups. The corrected Coleman logarithm identifies $U_{\infty }^1$ with the Iwasawa algebra of $G={\mathbb{Z}}_p^{\times }/\{\pm 1\}$. On a symmetric cyclotomic unit it gives $([b]-[a]){\zeta }_p$. A topological generator generates the cyclotomic-unit limit and the augmentation ideal, yielding the quotient description. This local calculation does not alone identify the characteristic ideal of the global Galois module.

The preceding constructions lead to the Iwasawa theorem on local cyclotomic units. Its significance is that an explicitly calculated local unit quotient is governed by a p-adic L-function; class field theory then suggests that the same analytic object should govern global arithmetic. The latter prediction is the Iwasawa main conjecture, rather than a consequence of the local calculation alone.

Fix compatible roots of unity ${\zeta }_{p^n}$ and put $K_n={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_{p^n})$, ${\pi }_n={\zeta }_{p^n}-1$. Let $V_{\infty }$ be the norm limit of the local principal units. Take its even part under complex conjugation to obtain $U_{\infty }^1$, the local principal-unit limit in the real tower. Let $C_{\infty }^1$ be the closed subgroup generated by norm-compatible real cyclotomic units, with their finite-order residue factors removed. WriteHere the last map is augmentation. Normalize the p-adic zeta pseudomeasure ${\zeta }_p$ byThe expression $x^k$ is well defined on $G$ for even $k$. A pseudomeasure lies in the total fraction ring of the Iwasawa algebra; the pole on its trivial finite-character component is removed by the augmentation ideal, so $I(G){\zeta }_p\subset {\Lambda }_G$. In this normalization the local theorem isThe following steps outline its proof and explain where the earlier questions enter.

First encode local units by Coleman power series. Evaluation at ${\pi }_n$ is surjective from $R$ to ${\mathcal{O}}_{K_n}$, and the product defining the Coleman norm operator givesThus norm-fixed series give norm-compatible sequences of local units. Conversely, lift $u_m$ from such a sequence to $f^{(m)}\in R^{\times }$ and take $g_m=N^{m-r_m}{f}^{(m)}$, where $r_m=\lfloor m/2\rfloor$. This has $g_m({\pi }_{r_m})=u_{r_m}$. The estimates in Question 2 give $N{g}_m/g_m\in 1+p^{m-r_m+1}R$. Consequently for fixed $n\le r_m$, the series $N^{r_m-n}{g}_m$ differs from $g_m$ modulo $p^{m-r_m+1}$ and its value at ${\pi }_n$ is $u_n$. The compactness of $R$ in the coarser of the topologies on integral formal power series supplies a convergent subsequence. Continuity of the Coleman norm operator and of evaluation shows that its limit is norm-fixed and takes every value $u_n$. It is a unit because the original principal units have residue $1$. Uniqueness follows from the Weierstrass preparation theorem: a nonzero series in $R$ has only finitely many zeros in the open unit disk, whereas the distinct ${\pi }_n$ give infinitely many interpolation points. This constructs the Coleman power series $f_u$.

Next turn its multiplicative information into an integral p-adic measure. For a norm-fixed unit $f$, use the Frobenius-corrected logarithmThe ratio belongs to $1+pR$ by reduction modulo $p$, and the logarithm divided by $p$ is integral because $p$ is odd. Equivalently $\mathcal{L}(f)=(1-\varphi /p)\log f$, interpreting the constant coefficient with the p-adic logarithm on units. The averaging identity for the logarithm is understood on the open $p$-adic unit disk, where the translated logarithmic series converge; the corrected result itself lies in $R$. The logarithmic product formula and Question 1 giveUnder the Amice transform, the root-of-unity average projects a p-adic measure onto its restriction to $p{\mathbb{Z}}_p$: the averaged factor $(1+T{)}^x$ survives exactly for $x\in p{\mathbb{Z}}_p$. Consequently $S\mathcal{L}(f)=0$ says that $\lambda (\mathcal{L}(f))$ is supported on ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^{\times }$. This gives a Galois group-equivariant homomorphism from local principal units to the Iwasawa algebra of ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^{\times }$.

The integral lifting step in this proof is the Coleman unit-measure exact sequenceHere $\mathrm{Col}(u)=\lambda (\mathcal{L}(f_u))$. The last map is surjective, since $m_1({\delta }_1)=1$, and it has the cyclotomic action on its target. Its composition with $\mathrm{Col}$ is zero: $D\varphi =p\varphi D$ implies $D\mathcal{L}(f)(0)=0$. The kernel on the unit side consists of norm-compatible $p$-power roots of unity. To see the shape of the kernel, write $z=\log (1+T)$; the equation $\mathcal{L}(f)=0$ becomes $h(pz)=ph(z)$ for $h(z)=\log f(e^z-1)$, so only its linear term can survive. Integral solutions are $f=(1+T{)}^c$, $c\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$, after excluding finite residue factors by the principal unit condition. For the image, use the following explicit integral lifting of the corrected cyclotomic logarithm.

Take a p-adic measure $\mu$ on the units with first moment zero, and write $g$ for its Amice transform. Then $Sg=0$ and $g^{\prime }(0)=0$. Put $H=\exp (pg)\in 1+pR$ and solve $f^p=H\varphi (f)$ with $f(0)\in 1+p{\mathbb{Z}}_p$. The constant equation is solved by $f_0=\exp (p{g}_0/(p-1))$. In degree one the terms involving $f_1$ cancel, and the remaining condition is $H_1=0$, exactly $g_1=0$; choose any $f_1\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. For $n\ge 2$, after fixing the lower coefficients, the coefficient multiplying the unknown $f_n$ isThe other terms are divisible by $p$: for the already integral truncated series, $f^p\equiv \varphi (f)(\mathrm{mod}p)$, while $H\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}p)$. Division therefore gives an integral $f_n$, since $f_0$ and $1-p^{n-1}$ are units. Recursion constructs $f\in R^{\times }$ with $\mathcal{L}(f)=g$. Now $pSg=\log (Nf/f)=0$, and $Nf/f\in 1+pR$ by Question 2. The p-adic logarithm is injective there, so $Nf=f$. This supplies the desired Coleman power series of a norm-compatible sequence of local units. The freely chosen linear coefficient accounts precisely for the kernel $(1+T{)}^c$. It proves the integral surjectivity step, including the integrality that rational inversion of $1-\varphi /p$ would leave unproved.

Complex conjugation acts by $-1$ on both copies of ${\mathbb{Z}}_p(1)$. As $p$ is odd, taking the even part is exact and removes both end terms. It follows that $\mathrm{Col}:U_{\infty }^1\simeq {\Lambda }_G$. The integral exact sequence is essential here: the support calculation alone would not prove this isomorphism.

It remains to calculate the image of the cyclotomic units. For $a,b\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p^{\times }$, consider the symmetric cyclotomic unit seriesThe quotient has an invertible constant term $a/b$, because both numerator and denominator have a simple zero at $T=0$. The factor $X^{(b-a)/2}$ makes the expression unchanged under $X\mapsto X^{-1}$. The product over the roots of unity gives $N{f}_{a,b}=f_{a,b}$; one may verify this first for integer $a,b$ prime to $p$ and then extend by continuity. Dividing by the norm-compatible Teichmuller representative makes the series correspond to principal units and does not change its logarithm. The generating function for the Bernoulli numbers, with $z=\log X$, givesThe symmetric factor cancels the linear term. Applying $1-\varphi /p$, and then the moment formula of Question 3, yieldsfor even $k\ge 2$. These moments determine an even p-adic measure on the units: polynomials are dense by the Mahler theorem, even projection preserves density, and multiplication by $x^2$ is invertible on the units, so the positive even-degree polynomials are dense there as well. ThusThe closed ideal generated by all differences $[b]-[a]$ is $I(G)$. The closed subgroup generated by the corresponding cyclotomic units, including its Galois group translates, therefore has image exactly $I(G){\zeta }_p$. Taking the quotient of the isomorphism $U_{\infty }^1\simeq {\Lambda }_G$ proves the boxed local theorem.

Finally introduce global arithmetic. Let ${\overline{E}}_{\infty }^1$ be the closure of norm-compatible global units in the real tower, let $X_{\infty }^{+}$ be its p-ramified Iwasawa module, and let $Y_{\infty }^{+}$ be its unramified Iwasawa module. With compatible unit and splitting conventions, class field theory gives the class-field unit sequence; quotienting its unit terms by $C_{\infty }^1$ givesIn the cyclotomic tower the prime above $p$ is principal, so the unramified class-field convention also makes it split. On the torsion character components, multiplicativity of characteristic ideals impliesThe local theorem has already calculated the first factor analytically. Equality of the global unit and class-group factors would therefore identify the characteristic ideal of $X_{\infty }^{+}$ with the same ideal of the p-adic L-function. That is the content predicted by the Iwasawa main conjecture. More explicitly, for a nontrivial even finite character $\chi$, the character component of $I(G)$ is the whole component and the prediction isHere ${\Lambda }_{\chi }$ is the power-series algebra of the pro-$p$ part with coefficients in the character-value ring. The trivial component requires the augmentation correction for the zeta pole. Equivalently the characteristic ideals of ${\overline{E}}_{\infty }^1/C_{\infty }^1$ and $Y_{\infty }^{+}$ agree componentwise. A formulation using odd class-group characters must include the appropriate cyclotomic twist and inversion, as in Kummer reflection in Iwasawa theory. The motivation is an analytic formula for local units together with a global class-field exact sequence; the global equality is the additional arithmetic assertion.

The related class-number growth theorem illustrates why passage to an Iwasawa module is powerful. For the cyclotomic ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$-extension, let $p^{e_n}$ be the $p$-part of the class number at level $n$. The unramified Iwasawa torsion theorem, the Iwasawa module structure theorem and the class-group control relations give, for sufficiently large $n$,Here $\mu ,\lambda$ are the Iwasawa invariants. To see the two growth terms, use a topological generator $\gamma$ and, after a fixed sufficiently high level $n_0$, the norm polynomial ${\nu }_{n,n_0}=({\gamma }^{p^n}-1)/({\gamma }^{p^{n_0}}-1)$. An elementary summand $\Lambda /(p^a)$ contributes $a(p^n-p^{n_0})$ to the length of its quotient by this polynomial. A summand associated with a distinguished polynomial of degree $d$ contributes $dn$ plus a constant: at each root $\alpha$ the valuation of the norm polynomial is $n$ plus a fixed constant for large $n$. If $1+\alpha$ is a root of unity already killed at level $n_0$, its value is instead exactly $p^{n-n_0}$ and gives the same linear contribution. The finite errors in the structure and control maps stabilize and contribute to $\nu$. Thus module structure explains growth, while the Iwasawa main conjecture goes further by identifying the characteristic series of an Iwasawa module themselves with analytic ones.

Half exponents in an odd-order root of unity group mean multiplication by the inverse of two modulo its order. This uniquely defines ${\zeta }_n^{a/2}$ inside $K_n$, and the definitions are compatible as $n$ varies. Put $d_a(z)=z^{-a/2}(1-z^a)$ on these roots. The symmetric cyclotomic unit is $c_n(a,b)=d_a({\zeta }_n)/d_b({\zeta }_n)$. Complex conjugation replaces each $d_a$ by $-d_a$, so the ratio is real. It is a global unit: choosing positive representatives for $a,b$ modulo $p^{n+1}$ gives geometric-series expressions for $(1-{\zeta }_n^a)/(1-{\zeta }_n)$ and its inverse, and similarly for $b$. The remaining factor is a root of unity.

The conjugates of ${\zeta }_n$ over $K_{n-1}$ are $\xi {\zeta }_n$ with $\xi \in {\mu }_p$. Because $p\nmid a$, multiplication by $a$ permutes ${\mu }_p$, andAlso ${\prod }_{\xi \in {\mu }_p}\xi =1$ for odd $p$, so $N_{n,n-1}({\zeta }_n)={\zeta }_{n-1}$. Applying the compatible half power proves $N_{n,n-1}(d_a({\zeta }_n))=d_a({\zeta }_{n-1})$. Dividing the analogous identities for $a,b$ proves

Embed the fields into the p-adic cyclotomic tower. Its interpolating Coleman power series isHere $(b-a)/2\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$, and binomial expansion defines the half power. Both numerator and denominator vanish to order one at $T=0$, with coefficients $-a$ and $-b$, so cancellation gives an integral unit with $f_{a,b}(0)=a/b$. This applies also to negative integers $a,b$. Evaluation at ${\zeta }_n-1$ gives $c_n(a,b)$; the same root-product calculation shows $\mathcal{N}{f}_{a,b}=f_{a,b}$ for the Coleman norm operator.

For clarity, the normalization of the higher logarithmic derivative isIn the formal coordinate $T=e^z-1$, $D=d/dz$ andOnly the derivative of the logarithm is needed, so no choice of its constant term is involved. Differentiating gives the regular-at-zero expressionUsing the Bernoulli numbers defined by $z/(e^z-1)={\sum }_{r\ge 0}{B}_r{z}^r/r!$, with $B_1=-1/2$, givesThe two poles cancel. Taking $k-1$ further derivatives and evaluating at zero therefore yields all the requested values:In particular ${\delta }_1=0$, ${\delta }_2=(a^2-b^2)/12$, and ${\delta }_4=-(a^4-b^4)/120$. The odd case includes $k=1$; substituting $B_1$ into the even-index formula would incorrectly lose the symmetric normalization. All the displayed values lie in ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$, directly from the integral Coleman power series definition, even when the rational Bernoulli expression has an apparent p-adic denominator. For even $k\ge 2$ the same answer is $-(a^k-b^k)\zeta (1-k)$.

The relevant notion is a root-of-unity Euler system, which contains auxiliary-prime data as well as the p-power tower. Fix a finite set $S$ of primes containing two but not $p$, and let $W_S$ consist of all roots of unity whose orders are prime to every member of $S$. It is a map $\Phi :W_S\to {\overline{\mathbb{Q}}}^{\times }$ satisfying these three axioms:

The first axiom puts $\Phi (\zeta )$ in the maximal real subfield of $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta )$. For $\zeta ={\zeta }_n$, the second axiom is exactly norm compatibility from $K_n^{+}$ to $K_{n-1}^{+}$ for $n\ge 1$. Auxiliary roots with prime orders different from $p$ are essential: mere norm compatibility of a sequence in the tower is not a verification of all three axioms.

The real cyclotomic unit group at a p-power conductor is generated by $-1$ and the symmetric cyclotomic units $c_n(a,b)$ with $p\nmid ab$. Galois conjugates are included, since a conjugate of $c_n(a,b)$ is $c_n(ua,ub)$ for an integer $u$ prime to $p$. Thus a prescribed unit can be expressed aswhere $d_a(z)=z^{-a/2}-z^{a/2}$, with half exponents interpreted in the odd-order root group. Choose $S$ to contain two and every prime divisor of the $a_j$. For $z\ne 1$ in $W_S$ putEach factor at $z\ne 1$ is nonzero because raising $z$ to $a_j$ preserves its order. At $z=1$ each $d_{a_j}$ has a simple zero with first coefficient $-a_j$; the total exponent zero cancels the zeros and signs, giving the stated removable value. Consequently $\Phi ({\zeta }_n)=\epsilon$.

We verify the axioms individually. First, $d_a(z^{-1})=-d_a(z)$; the product's sign is $(-1{)}^{\sum e_j}=1$, so $\Phi$ is even. The unique half-root operation commutes with every field automorphism, all exponents are integers and $\eta$ is rational. Hence $\Phi (\sigma z)=\sigma \Phi (z)$, including at $z=1$.

Second, $q\notin S$ is odd and does not divide any $a_j$. For a variable $x$, choose half powers consistently and useHere $\rho \mapsto {\rho }^a$ permutes ${\mu }_q$, and the product of its half powers is one. Raising these identities to $e_j$ and multiplying gives the distribution identity, since ${\eta }^q=\eta$. If $x=1$ or $x^q=1$, take the removable values after cancellation; the rational-function identity remains valid there. Thus the distribution axiom holds also at the special roots where the uncancelled factors vanish.

Third, fix $q\notin S$, a root $z$ of order prime to $q$, and a prime $\mathfrak{q}$ above $q$. Every $\rho \in {\mu }_q$ reduces to one modulo $\mathfrak{q}$. If $z\ne 1$, its reduction retains its exact order: prime-to-q roots have distinct reductions because their order polynomial is separable in characteristic $q$. Therefore $1-z^{a_j}$ is a local unit, and all the factors and inverse factors are regular at that reduction. Reduction of the expression for $\Phi (\rho z)$ then gives $\Phi (z)$, since the half roots reduce compatibly. This proves the congruence and local integrality for nontrivial $z$.

At $z=1$, write $\rho =1+T$. The cancelled expressionis a unit formal power series over ${\mathbb{Z}}_q$, because every $a_j$ and two are q-adic units. Its constant term is $\eta {\prod }_j{a}_j^{e_j}$. Evaluating at $T=\rho -1$ proves the remaining congruence modulo every prime over $q$. This also covers $\rho =1$. Hence every real cyclotomic unit at any layer is a value of an Cyclotomic Euler system satisfying all three axioms.

For completeness, at a nontrivial root $z$ every ratio $d_a(z)/d_b(z)$ is a global unit. After removing a root-of-unity factor, both it and its inverse are geometric sums because $a,b$ are invertible modulo the order of $z$. Thus the values used at nontrivial roots really are units, not just nonzero algebraic numbers. Values at one may be rational S-units, which is compatible with the definition.

The auxiliary norm factor can also be read off explicitly. If $z$ has order $m>2$ and $q\nmid m$, then for $\rho \ne 1$ of order $q$,Here the arithmetic Frobenius sends $z$ to $z^q$. This convention makes the sign of the Euler factor explicit, while the case of a repeated prime $p$ gives the exact tower norm relation already proved in Question 2.