Bounds for moments of $\ell$-torsion in class groups

Abstract: Fix a number field $k$, integers $\ell, n \geq 2$, and a prime $p$. For all $r \geq 1$, we prove strong unconditional upper bounds on the $r$-th moment of $\ell$-torsion in the ideal class groups of degree $p$ extensions of $k$ and of degree $n$ $S_n$-extensions of $k$, improving upon results of Ellenberg, Pierce and Wood as well as GRH-conditional results of Frei and Widmer. For large $r$, our results are comparable with work of Heath-Brown and Pierce for imaginary quadratic extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$. When $r=1$, our results are new even for the family of all quadratic extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$, leading to an improved upper bound for the count of degree $p$ $D_p$-extensions over $\mathbb{Q}$ (where $D_p$ is the dihedral group of order $2p$).