We prove the finiteness of class numbers and Tate–Shafarevich sets for all affine group schemes of finite type over global function fields, as well as the finiteness of Tamagawa numbers and Godement’s compactness criterion (and a local analogue) for all such groups that are smooth and connected. This builds on the known cases of solvable and semi-simple groups via systematic use of the recently developed structure theory and classification of pseudo-reductive groups.

Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of number fields. We formulate and study a conjectural equality between an element of the relative algebraic K-group $K_0(\mathbb{Z}[\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)], \mathbb{R})$ which is constructed from the equivariant Artin epsilon constant of $L/K$ and a sum of structural invariants associated to $L/K$. The precise conjecture is motivated by the requirement that a special case of the equivariant refinement of the Tamagawa Number Conjecture of Bloch and Kato (as formulated by Flach and the second-named author) should be compatible with the functional equation of the associated L-function. We show that, more concretely, our conjecture also suggests a completely systematic refinement of the central approach and results of classical Galois module theory. In particular, the evidence for our conjecture that we present here already strongly refines many of the main results of Galois module theory.

Let L/K be a finite Galois extension of number fields. We use complexes arising from the étale cohomology of $\Bbb Z$ on open subschemes of Spec $\cal O$L to define a canonical element of the relative algebraic K-group K0($\Bbb Z$[Gal(L/K)], $\Bbb R$. We establish some basic properties of this element, and then use it to reinterpret and refine conjectures of Stark, of Chinburg and of Gruenberg, Ritter and Weiss. Our results precisely explain the connection between these conjectures and the seminal work of Bloch and Kato concerning Tamagawa numbers. This provides significant new insight into these important conjectures and also allows one to use powerful techniques from arithmetic algebraic geometry to obtain new evidence in their favour.