L-functions and Cyclotomic Units

Here RK is the regulator of K, wK is the number of roots of unity in K and hK is the class number of K. This formula is a striking connection between arithmetic and analysis, and there have been many attempts to generalize it to other L-functions: one expects that the value of a “motivic” L-function at an integer point should involve a transcendental factor, a boring rational factor, and an interesting rational factor. In the case of the Dedekind zeta function, these roles are played by RK , wK , and hK , respectively. In the general case one expects that the interesting rational factor is the order of a certain Selmer group.