Let K be an imaginary quadratic field, A(K) its p-class group, and H(K) its p-Hilbert class field. If rk(A(K))=2, a result due to Arrigoni tells us that p^3 divides the order of the class group of H(K). Are there any explicit non-trivial lower bounds in the case that rk(A(K))>2 ?



Lower bound on the class group of the p-Hilbert class field of an imaginary quadr. field
If $G$ is the Galois group of the $p$-class field tower over $K$, then $A(H(K))=G'/G''$ is a quotient of $G\_2/G\_4$, where $G\_i$ denotes the lower central series. By Arrigoni's calculation that $G\_2/G\_4$ has $p$-rank exactly $\frac{d(d-1)(2d+5)}{6}$, this serves as a lower bound for the $p$-rank of $A(H(K))$. When $d=2$, you get the bound of $3$ you mention in the question. Note that the calculation is actually much more precise: The size of $A(H(K))$ depends not only on the rank, but on the orders of the generators of the $p$-class group. This will give you a better bound for the class number than simply raising $p$ to the rank bound given above.


