On minus quotients of ideal class groups of cyclotomic fields

Abstract

Let [Formula: see text] be the minus quotient of the ideal class group of the [Formula: see text]th cyclotomic field. In this paper, first, we show that each finite abelian group appears as a subgroup of [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text]. Second, we show that, for all pairs of integers [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], the kernel of the lifting map [Formula: see text] is contained in the [Formula: see text]-torsion [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. Such an evaluation of the exponent is an individuality of cyclotomic fields.