Let $\chi$ be a Hecke character of finite order of a totally real number field $F$. By using Hill's Shintani cocyle we provide a cohomological construction of the $p$-adic $L$-series $L_p(\chi, s)$ associated to $\chi$. This is used to show that $L_p(\chi, s)$ has a trivial zero at $s=0$ of order at least equal to the number of places of $F$ above $p$ where the local component of $\chi$ is trivial.
Categories: math.NT