The Iwasawa Algebra in Number Theory and Topology
by Steve MITCHELL (University of Washington)
Abstract:
The Iwasawa algebra $\Lambda$ is the power series ring in one
variable over the p-adic integers. It arises in number theory from the
Galois theory of p-cyclotomic extensions of Q, and in topology
as a ring of Adams operations in p-adic complex
K-theory. Furthermore, these two incarnations of $\Lambda$ are
connected in an interesting way by algebraic K-theory.
This talk will be purely expository, and is aimed at an audience of
graduate students and non-specialists. All of the terms used above will
be defined in the talk, starting with the p-adic integers.