Cyclotomic units over finite fields

Let ζ be a primitivesp-th root of unity for a primep>2, and consider the group Ω(ζ) of cyclotomic units in the ringR(ζ)=ℒζ+ζ^-1]. This paper deals with the image of Ω(ζ) in the unit group ofR(ζ)/qR(ζ), whereq is a prime ≠p. In particular, it obtains criteria for this image to be essentially everything, and a lower bound on the density of primesp (withq fixed) for which it cannot be. These results have a direct bearing on previous work about units in integral group rings for cyclic groups of orderpq. Work supported in part by an operating grant from NSERC (Canada).