E-function

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In mathematics, E-functions are a type of power series that satisfy particular arithmetic conditions on the coefficients. They are of interest in transcendental number theory, and are closely related to G-functions.

Definition

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Perspective

A power series with coefficients in the field of algebraic numbers

is called an E-function[1] if it satisfies the following three conditions:

  • It is a solution of a non-zero linear differential equation with polynomial coefficients (this implies that all the coefficients cn belong to the same algebraic number field, K, which has finite degree over the rational numbers);
  • For all ,   
where the left hand side represents the maximum of the absolute values of all the algebraic conjugates of cn;
  • For all there is a sequence of natural numbers q0, q1, q2,... such that qnck is an algebraic integer in K for k = 0, 1, 2,..., n, and n = 0, 1, 2,... and for which

The second condition implies that f is an entire function of x.

Uses

E-functions were first studied by Siegel in 1929.[2] He found a method to show that the values taken by certain E-functions were algebraically independent. This was a result which established the algebraic independence of classes of numbers rather than just linear independence.[3] Since then these functions have proved somewhat useful in number theory and in particular they have application in transcendence proofs and differential equations.[4]

The Siegel–Shidlovsky theorem

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Perspective

Perhaps the main result connected to E-functions is the Siegel–Shidlovsky theorem (also known as the Siegel and Shidlovsky theorem), named after Carl Ludwig Siegel and Andrei Borisovich Shidlovsky.

Suppose that we are given n E-functions, E1(x),...,En(x), that satisfy a system of homogeneous linear differential equations

where the fij are rational functions of x, and the coefficients of each E and f are elements of an algebraic number field K. Then the theorem states that if E1(x),...,En(x) are algebraically independent over K(x), then for any non-zero algebraic number α that is not a pole of any of the fij the numbers E1(α),...,En(α) are algebraically independent.

Examples

  1. Any polynomial with algebraic coefficients is a simple example of an E-function.
  2. The exponential function is an E-function, in its case cn = 1 for all of the n.
  3. If λ is an algebraic number then the Bessel function Jλ is an E-function.
  4. The sum or product of two E-functions is an E-function. In particular E-functions form a ring.
  5. If a is an algebraic number and f(x) is an E-function then f(ax) will be an E-function.
  6. If f(x) is an E-function then the derivative and integral of f are also E-functions.

References

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