On the theory of higher rank Euler, Kolyvagin and Stark systems, III: applications

In an earlier article we proved the existence of a canonical Kolyvagin derivative homomorphism between the modules of Euler and Kolyvagin systems (in any given rank) that are associated to $p$-adic representations over number fields. We now explain how the existence of such a homomorphism leads to new results on the structure of the Selmer modules of Galois representations over Gorenstein orders and to a strategy for verifying (refinements of) the Tamagawa number conjecture of Bloch and Kato. We describe concrete applications relating to the multiplicative group over arbitrary number fields and to elliptic curves over abelian extensions of the rational numbers.