Introduction to Cyclotomic Fields is a carefully written exposition
of a central area of number theory that can be used as a second course
in algebraic number theory. Starting at an elementary level, the volume
covers p-adic L-functions, class numbers, cyclotomic units, Fermat's
Last Theorem, and Iwasawa's theory of Z_p-extensions, leading the reader
to an understanding of modern research literature. Many exercises are
included.
The second edition includes a new chapter on the work of Thaine,
Kolyvagin, and Rubin, including a proof of the Main Conjecture. There is
also a chapter giving other recent developments, including primality
testing via Jacobi sums and Sinnott's proof of the vanishing of
Iwasawa's f-invariant.