Linear Forms in Polylogarithms

TL;DR

This paper establishes a criterion for the linear independence over algebraic number fields of values of Lerch functions at multiple algebraic points, extending previous results to more general algebraic points beyond rationals and quadratic fields.

Contribution

It provides the first sufficient condition for the linear independence of Lerch function values at several algebraic points, including those outside rational and quadratic imaginary fields.

Findings

Derived a criterion for linear independence of Lerch function values at algebraic points.

Proved the non-vanishing of a Hermite-type Wronskian.

Extended the scope of linear independence results to more general algebraic points.

Abstract

Let $r, \,m$ be positive integers. Let $x$ be a rational number with $0 \le x <1$. Consider $\Phi_s(x,z) =\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\frac{z^{k+1}}{{(k+x+1)}^s}$ the $s$-th Lerch function with $s=1, 2, \cdots, r$. When $x=0$, this is a polylogarithmic function. Let $\alpha_1, \cdots, \alpha_m$ be pairwise distinct algebraic numbers of arbitrary degree over the rational number field, with $0<|\alpha_j|<1 \,\,\,(1\leq j \leq m)$. In this article, we show a criterion for the linear independence, over an algebraic number field containing $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha_1, \cdots, \alpha_m)$, of all the $rm+1$ numbers : $\Phi_1(x,\alpha_1)$, $\Phi_2(x,\alpha_1), $ $\cdots , \Phi_r(x,\alpha_1)$, $\Phi_1(x,\alpha_2)$, $\Phi_2(x,\alpha_2), $ $\cdots , \Phi_r(x,\alpha_2), \cdots, \cdots, \Phi_1(x,\alpha_m)$, $\Phi_2(x,\alpha_m)$, $\cdots , \Phi_r(x,\alpha_m)$ and $1$. This is the first result that gives a sufficient condition for the linear independence of values of the Lerch functions at several distinct algebraic points, not necessarily lying in the rational number field nor in quadratic imaginary fields. We give a complete proof with refinements and quantitative statements of the main theorem announced in [10], together with a proof in detail on the non-vanishing Wronskian of Hermite type.