On the structure of even $K$-groups of rings of algebraic integers

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the higher even $K$-groups of the ring of integers of a number field in terms of class groups of an appropriate extension of the number field in question. This is a natural extension of the previous collective works of Browkin, Keune and Kolster, where they considered the case of $K_2$. We then revisit the Kummer's criterion of totally real fields as generalized by Greenberg and Kida. In particular, we give an algebraic $K$-theoretical formulation of this criterion which we will prove using the algebraic $K$-theoretical results developed here.