Introduction
Let J κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) denote the Bessel function of the first kind of order κ \kappa κ (see §2). In general κ ∈ C \kappa\in\mathbb{C} κ ∈ C but we will mostly be concerned with κ ∈ R ≥ 0 \kappa\in\mathbb{R}_{\geq0} κ ∈ R ≥ 0 and even with the orders κ = m / 2 ∈ N ∪ ( N + 1 / 2 ) \kappa= m/2 \in\mathbb{N} \cup(\mathbb{N} + 1/2) κ = m /2 ∈ N ∪ ( N + 1/2 ) (N = { 0 , 1 , 2 , … } \mathbb{N} = \{0, 1, 2, \ldots\} N = { 0 , 1 , 2 , … } ) connected with the spectral theory of the unit ball in R m \mathbb{R}^{m} R m .
For κ ∈ R \kappa\in\mathbb{R} κ ∈ R , J κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) has infinitely many real zeros, symmetrically located about x = 0 x = 0 x = 0 , and only finitely many non-real zeros (see [11 10.21(i)] ). We show that, for non-negative real κ ≠ 1 / 2 \kappa\ne1/2 κ = 1/2 , n n n -tuples of zeros of J κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) on an algebraic variety V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{n} V ⊂ ( C × ) n must be quite sparse, subject only to the obvious necessary obstruction: the presence of positive-dimensional “Bessel special subvarieties” (see Definition 1.1) contained in V V V . For κ = 1 / 2 \kappa= 1/2 κ = 1/2 , the zeros are precisely π Z \pi\mathbb{Z} π Z (for κ = − 1 / 2 \kappa= -1/2 κ = − 1/2 they are π ( Z + 1 / 2 ) \pi(\mathbb{Z} + 1/2) π ( Z + 1/2 ) ) and our approach breaks down (the failure can be seen in Lemma 5.2).
Though J κ J_{\kappa} J κ is sometimes well-defined at x = 0 x = 0 x = 0 , the variety C × \mathbb{C}^{\times} C × comprising the regular points of the differential equation is the natural ambient.
1.1. Definition. Fix κ ∈ C \kappa\in\mathbb{C} κ ∈ C . A (Bessel) special point is a zero β ∈ C × \beta\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} β ∈ C × of J κ J_{\kappa} J κ . A (Bessel) special point in ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{n} ( C × ) n is an n n n -tuple ( β 1 , … , β n ) (\beta_{1}, \ldots, \beta_{n}) ( β 1 , … , β n ) of Bessel special points. A (Bessel) special subvariety in ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{n} ( C × ) n is a nonempty subvariety defined by any number of equations of the forms: x i = β i x_{i} = \beta_{i} x i = β i , where β i \beta_{i} β i is a Bessel special point, or x j = ± x k x_{j} = \pm x_{k} x j = ± x k (where j ≠ k j \ne k j = k ).
Fixing κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) \kappa\in[0,\infty) κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) , the (positive) special points have asymptotic expansions due to McMahon (see e.g. [11 §10.21(vi)] ) which give that, as m → + ∞ m \to+\infty m → + ∞ ,
β m = β κ , m = π ( m + κ / 2 − 1 / 4 ) + O κ ( m − 1 ) , \beta_m=\beta_{\kappa,m}=\pi\left(m+\kappa/2-1/4\right)+O_{\kappa}\left(m^{-1}\right), β m = β κ , m = π ( m + κ /2 − 1/4 ) + O κ ( m − 1 ) ,
where β κ , m \beta_{\kappa,m} β κ , m is the m m m th positive zero (which are all simple) of J κ J_{\kappa} J κ , and m = 1 , 2 , … m=1,2,\ldots m = 1 , 2 , … . We set the height of β m \beta_m β m to be H ( β m ) = ∣ β m ∣ H(\beta_m)=|\beta_m| H ( β m ) = ∣ β m ∣ , which thus is roughly linear in m m m (for fixed κ \kappa κ ). If T T T is a special subvariety we define its height , denoted H ( T ) H(T) H ( T ) , to be the maximum of 1 and the height of its constant (special point) coordinates. A special point is then the same as a special subvariety of dimension zero, while a special subvariety of positive dimension k k k contains “many” special points in a height density sense (asymptotically 2 k H k / π k 2^kH^k/\pi^k 2 k H k / π k special points up to height H H H ).
By a maximal special subvariety T ⊂ V T \subset V T ⊂ V , for a variety V V V , we mean one maximal for inclusion among special subvarieties contained in V V V .
Theorem 1.2. Let κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) ∖ { 1 / 2 } \kappa\in[0,\infty)\setminus\{1/2\} κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) ∖ { 1/2 } , ϵ > 0 \epsilon>0 ϵ > 0 , and let V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n be an algebraic subvariety. Then, for H ≥ 1 H \ge1 H ≥ 1 , V V V contains at most
C ( V , κ , ϵ ) H ϵ C(V,\kappa,\epsilon)H^{\epsilon} C ( V , κ , ϵ ) H ϵ maximal Bessel special subvarieties T T T with height H ( T ) ≤ H H(T) \le H H ( T ) ≤ H . For κ ∈ N + 1 / 2 \kappa\in\mathbb{N}+1/2 κ ∈ N + 1/2 (except κ = ± 1 / 2 \kappa=\pm1/2 κ = ± 1/2 ) the estimate may be improved to
C ( V , κ ) ( log ( 1 + H ) ) c ( V , κ ) . C(V,\kappa)(\log(1+H))^{c(V,\kappa)}. C ( V , κ ) ( log ( 1 + H ) ) c ( V , κ ) .
In particular, if V V V contains no positive-dimensional special subvarieties then these estimates hold for the number of special points on V V V up to height H H H . Our argument does not render effective constants though they are uniform for all V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n of given dimension and degree. The poly-logarithmic bound for κ ∈ N + 1 / 2 \kappa\in\mathbb{N}+1/2 κ ∈ N + 1/2 , κ ≠ 1 / 2 \kappa\ne1/2 κ = 1/2 , follows from the proof [9 ] of Wilkie’s conjecture on point-counting bounds for sets definable using restricted Pfaffian functions and (unrestricted) exponential.
Theorem 1.2 is a weak analogue of the classical Manin-Mumford conjecture (theorem of Raynaud [29 ] ). It is weak in asserting only sparsity of the (maximal) special subvarieties in V V V rather than finiteness. This is due to the fact that the special points are in general not algebraic numbers (by Siegel [32 ] , the non-zero roots are transcendental when κ ∈ Q \kappa\in\mathbb{Q} κ ∈ Q ), and so the algebraic structure that enables deducing finiteness from sparseness in the classical context is absent.
The proof of Theorem 1.2 uses point-counting and functional transcendence. It follows the basic strategy introduced in [27 ] , but with some key new features, including the manner in which special points are counted by integer points in a definable set. Definability of the counting set in an o-minimal structure entails that suitable related functions (essentially the Hankel functions with their oscillation “removed”) are so definable. Showing this uses summability theory of linear differential equations and quasi-analyticity; the relevant o-minimal structure is the structure R G , exp \mathbb{R}_{G,\exp} R G , e x p of multi-summable Gevrey series (with exponentiation) introduced (and proved o-minimal) by van den Dries-Speissegger [12 ] .
Our functional transcendence result is an “Ax-Schanuel” statement for Bessel functions and exponentials. It is a generalization of the classical Ax-Schanuel theorem of Ax [3 Theorem 3] . A very special case is a result of Siegel [32 Satz 9] , proved in the context of the abovementioned transcendence results. This result was reproved by Kolchin [20 ] , who introduced some group-theoretic ideas that are central to our treatment (see [18 ] for a generalization). We combine Kolchin’s results and a study of the formal solutions and their Stokes phenomenon with the recent Ax-Schanuel technology [10 ] of Blázquez-Sanz–Casale–Freitag–Nagloo.
1.3. Definition. A (Bessel) weakly special subvariety of ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n ( C × ) n is a subvariety defined by any number of equations of either of the two forms: x i = c i x_i=c_i x i = c i , c i ∈ C × c_i\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} c i ∈ C × , and x j = ± x k x_j=\pm x_k x j = ± x k (where j ≠ k j\ne k j = k ).
Let K K K be a differential field with derivation D D D and field of constants C \mathbb{C} C . For a field M M M , subfield L L L , and elements x 1 , … , x n x_1,\ldots,x_n x 1 , … , x n of M M M , tuples y ‾ 1 , … , y ‾ m \overline{y}_1,\ldots,\overline{y}_m y 1 , … , y m of elements of M M M , matrices A 1 , … , A ℓ A_1,\ldots,A_\ell A 1 , … , A ℓ of elements of M M M , tuples of matrices A ‾ 1 , … , A ‾ k \overline{A}_1,\ldots,\overline{A}_k A 1 , … , A k , etc, we denote by
F = L ( x 1 , … , x n , y ‾ 1 , … , y ‾ m , A 1 , … , A ℓ , A ‾ 1 , … , A ‾ k , e t c ) F=L(x_1,\ldots,x_n,\overline{y}_1,\ldots,\overline{y}_m,A_1,\ldots,A_\ell,\overline{A}_1,\ldots,\overline{A}_k,\mathrm{etc}) F = L ( x 1 , … , x n , y 1 , … , y m , A 1 , … , A ℓ , A 1 , … , A k , etc )
the field obtained by adjoining to L L L all the constituent elements and entries of the tuples and matrices etc, and by td L F \operatorname{td}_L F td L F we denote the transcendence degree of the extension F / L F/L F / L .
Bessel’s differential equation of order κ \kappa κ (of which z = J κ ( x ) z=J_\kappa(x) z = J κ ( x ) is a solution) is
x 2 z ′ ′ + x z ′ + ( x 2 − κ 2 ) z = 0 , x^2z''+xz'+(x^2-\kappa^2)z=0, x 2 z ′′ + x z ′ + ( x 2 − κ 2 ) z = 0 ,
where ′ ' ′ denotes differentiation with respect to x x x . We call the equation generic if κ ∉ Z + 1 / 2 \kappa\notin\mathbb{Z}+1/2 κ ∈ / Z + 1/2 . In that case, the differential Galois group is well-known (see e.g. Kolchin [20 ] ) to be S L 2 ( C ) \mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{C}) SL 2 ( C ) . Thus, if
W = ( z 1 z 2 z 1 ′ z 2 ′ ) W=\begin{pmatrix} z_1 & z_2 \\ z'_1 & z'_2 \end{pmatrix} W = ( z 1 z 1 ′ z 2 z 2 ′ )
is a fundamental matrix formed from two C \mathbb{C} C -linearly independent solutions z 1 , z 2 z_1,z_2 z 1 , z 2 then td C ( x ) C ( x , W ) = 3 \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}(x)}\mathbb{C}(x,W)=3 td C ( x ) C ( x , W ) = 3 . For non-generic κ \kappa κ , the solutions to Bessel’s differential equation are elementary (combinations of exponentials e ± i x e^{\pm ix} e ± i x and rational functions of x x x ; see §2), and td C ( x ) C ( x , W ) = 1 \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}(x)}\mathbb{C}(x,W)=1 td C ( x ) C ( x , W ) = 1 . Here is our Ax-Schanuel result for Bessel functions and exponentials. Below, all the functions are assumed contained in K K K .
Theorem 1.4. Let x 1 , … , x n ∈ K ∖ C x_1,\ldots,x_n\in K\setminus\mathbb{C} x 1 , … , x n ∈ K ∖ C and, for each i i i , let W i W_i W i be a fundamental matrix of solutions to Bessel’s differential equation (with respect to x i x_i x i ) of generic order κ i ∈ C \kappa_i\in\mathbb{C} κ i ∈ C . Let further y 1 , … , y m ∈ K ∖ C y_1,\ldots,y_m\in K\setminus\mathbb{C} y 1 , … , y m ∈ K ∖ C and, for each j j j , let Y j Y_j Y j be a fundamental matrix of solutions to Bessel’s differential equation (with respect to y j y_j y j ) of non-generic order ν j \nu_j ν j . Finally, let e 1 , … , e ℓ , t 1 , … , t ℓ ∈ K ∖ C e_1,\ldots,e_\ell,t_1,\ldots,t_\ell\in K\setminus\mathbb{C} e 1 , … , e ℓ , t 1 , … , t ℓ ∈ K ∖ C with, for each k k k , D t k = D e k / e k Dt_k=De_k/e_k D t k = D e k / e k . Let x ˉ = ( x 1 , … , x n ) \bar{x}=(x_1,\ldots,x_n) x ˉ = ( x 1 , … , x n ) , W ‾ = ( W 1 , … , W n ) \overline{W}=(W_1,\ldots,W_n) W = ( W 1 , … , W n ) etc. Then
td C C ( t ˉ , e ˉ , y ˉ , Y ‾ , x ˉ , W ‾ ) ≥ ℓ + m + 3 n + 1 \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}\mathbb{C}( \bar{t},\bar{e},\bar{y},\overline{Y},\bar{x},\overline{W}) \ge\ell+m+3n+1 td C C ( t ˉ , e ˉ , y ˉ , Y , x ˉ , W ) ≥ ℓ + m + 3 n + 1 unless either
(A) t 1 , … , t ℓ , i y 1 , … , i y m t_1,\ldots,t_\ell,iy_1,\ldots,iy_m t 1 , … , t ℓ , i y 1 , … , i y m are linearly dependent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q modulo C \mathbb{C} C ,
or
(B) there are i , j ≠ i i,j\ne i i , j = i such that x i = x j x_i=x_j x i = x j or x i = − x j x_i=-x_j x i = − x j (and κ i ± κ j ∈ Z \kappa_i\pm\kappa_j\in\mathbb{Z} κ i ± κ j ∈ Z ).
We apply the above results to study sets Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^m Λ ⊂ R m of orthogonal exponentials for the unit ball Δ m ⊂ R m \Delta_m\subset\mathbb{R}^m Δ m ⊂ R m . See [14 , 15 , 17 , 36 ] . These are sets such that, for any λ 1 , λ 2 ∈ Λ \lambda_1,\lambda_2\in\Lambda λ 1 , λ 2 ∈ Λ with λ 1 ≠ λ 2 \lambda_1\ne\lambda_2 λ 1 = λ 2 we have
∫ Δ m exp ( 2 π i u ⋅ ( λ 1 − λ 2 ) ) d u = 0. \int_{\Delta_m}\exp\bigl(2\pi i u\cdot(\lambda_1-\lambda_2)\bigr)\,du=0. ∫ Δ m exp ( 2 π i u ⋅ ( λ 1 − λ 2 ) ) d u = 0.
The orthogonality condition is equivalent to the distance between any two distinct points of Λ \Lambda Λ being a zero of J m / 2 ( 2 π x ) J_{m/2}(2\pi x) J m /2 ( 2 π x ) . Equivalently, Λ ∗ = 2 π Λ \Lambda^*=2\pi\Lambda Λ ∗ = 2 π Λ is a Bessel distance set in R m \mathbb{R}^m R m : all positive distances are zeros of J m / 2 J_{m/2} J m /2 .
It is known that any such set is finite (Fuglede [14 ] states finiteness for m = 2 m=2 m = 2 and in [15 ] proves finiteness for all m ≥ 2 m\ge2 m ≥ 2 ). For given m m m it is not known if the size of such a set is uniformly bounded. One can construct an abundance of such sets of size m + 1 m+1 m + 1 , but Fuglede [14 , 15 ] conjectured that such a set of size m + 2 m+2 m + 2 in R m \mathbb{R}^m R m is impossible, observing that the existence of such a set would entail some algebraic relation among the positive zeros of J m / 2 J_{m/2} J m /2 , which he viewed as “highly unlikely”.
Iosevich and Kolountzakis [17 ] give a uniform linear bound for the size of such Λ \Lambda Λ for m = 2 m=2 m = 2 in terms of the infimum of non-zero differences
inf { ∣ λ 1 − λ 2 ∣ : λ 1 , λ 2 ∈ Λ , λ 1 ≠ λ 2 } \inf\{|\lambda_1-\lambda_2|:\lambda_1,\lambda_2\in\Lambda,\lambda_1\ne\lambda_2\} inf { ∣ λ 1 − λ 2 ∣ : λ 1 , λ 2 ∈ Λ , λ 1 = λ 2 }
in Λ \Lambda Λ , and show further that such sets are sparse in the sense that
# Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] 2 ≤ c R 2 / 3 . \#\Lambda\cap[-R,R]^2\le cR^{2/3}. #Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] 2 ≤ c R 2/3 .
The exponent 2 / 3 2/3 2/3 is improved to 3 / 5 + ϵ 3/5+\epsilon 3/5 + ϵ by Zakharov [36 ] .
If we consider the tuple of distances associated with m + 2 m+2 m + 2 element subsets of Λ \Lambda Λ we generate special points on the distance variety V m + 2 , R m ⊂ R M V_{m+2,\mathbb{R}^{m}} \subset\mathbb{R}^{M} V m + 2 , R m ⊂ R M , M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) / 2 M=(m+2)(m+1)/2 M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) /2 (whose points are the M M M -tuples of distances between m + 2 m+2 m + 2 points in R m \mathbb{R}^{m} R m ). This set is contained in a strict subvariety of R ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) / 2 \mathbb{R}^{(m+2)(m+1)/2} R ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) /2 (see [7 §9.7] ). Using 1.2 we prove
Theorem 1.5. Let m ≥ 2 m \ge2 m ≥ 2 and ϵ > 0 \epsilon> 0 ϵ > 0 . For a set Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^{m} Λ ⊂ R m of orthogonal exponentials for the unit ball in R m \mathbb{R}^{m} R m we have
# Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ c ( m , ϵ ) R ϵ . \#\Lambda\cap[-R,R]^{m} \le c(m,\epsilon)R^{\epsilon}. #Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ c ( m , ϵ ) R ϵ . For odd m m m the estimate may be improved to C ( m ) ( log R ) c ( m ) C(m)(\log R)^{c(m)} C ( m ) ( log R ) c ( m ) .
Note that the constraints afforded by Theorem 1.4 are much less restrictive for non-generic orders than for generic ones. It is remarkable that, despite this, the same form holds for all non-negative real κ ≠ 1 / 2 \kappa\ne1/2 κ = 1/2 for the weakly special subvarieties in Theorem 1.2 (cf Lemma 5.1 versus Lemma 5.2 ), giving the same form of estimate in Theorem 1.5 .
The proof of Theorem 1.5 is in § 10 . Our present argument, relying on Theorem 1.2 , does not render effective constants.
In the final section § 11 of the paper we return to the question of possible algebraic relations among zeros of the Bessel functions relevant to Fuglede’s conjecture, and more generally those of rational order. For non-generic J m + 1 / 2 J_{m+1/2} J m + 1/2 , the existence of such relations is governed by Schanuel’s conjecture ([21 p30] , Conjecture 8.1) on the transcendence properties of the exponential function. We show that Schanuel’s conjecture implies the algebraic independence of distinct positive zeros and thus precludes the existence of a set of orthogonal exponentials in R m \mathbb{R}^{m} R m of size m + 2 m+2 m + 2 for odd m ≥ 3 m \ge3 m ≥ 3 .
For even m = 2 k m=2k m = 2 k , the algebraic independence of positive zeros of J k J_k J k would also rule out the existence of a set of orthogonal exponentials of size m + 2 m+2 m + 2 in R m \mathbb{R}^{m} R m . However there seems to be no “Bessel-Schanuel conjecture” formulated in the literature. Guided by our Bessel-Ax-Schanuel theorem above and the Siegel-Shidlovskii theorems [32 , 31 ] , we offer a formulation in Conjecture 8.4 .
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments. GB was supported by the Marvin V. and Beverly J. Mielke Endowed Fund and the Infosys Member Fund as a member of the IAS. GB and AK were supported by the European Union (ERC, SharpOS, 101087910) and by Israel Science Foundation grant no. 2067/23.
JP is grateful to the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Institute for Advanced Study for their warm hospitality and financial support.
JP was supported as a Weston Visiting Professor during his visit to the the WIS, and by the Charles Simonyi Endowment as a member of the IAS.
GK was supported by the Israel Science Foundation and the Binational Science Foundation.
AI disclosure. GPT 5.6 sol and 6 Astra were used to check various details, including identifying some references, and to review an earlier fully human-written draft of this paper, leading to various suggested corrections that were human-implemented. In particular it spotted an error in an earlier version of the proof of Theorem 3.1 for rational non-integer parameters, and assisted in fixing this error. Note that this error did not affect our main applications for the Fuglede problem which deal with integer parameters.
Bessel Basics
Bessel’s differential equation (above) is of confluent hypergeometric type. It has an irregular singular point at x = ∞ x=\infty x = ∞ and a branch point at x = 0 x=0 x = 0 .
The Bessel function of the first kind , J κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) , may be defined by
J κ ( x ) = ( x 2 ) κ ∑ j = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) j Γ ( j + 1 ) Γ ( j + κ + 1 ) ( x 2 ) 2 j . J_{\kappa}(x)=\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{\kappa}\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{j}}{\Gamma(j+1)\Gamma(j+\kappa+1)}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{2j}. J κ ( x ) = ( 2 x ) κ j = 0 ∑ ∞ Γ ( j + 1 ) Γ ( j + κ + 1 ) ( − 1 ) j ( 2 x ) 2 j .
(Note that Γ ( z ) − 1 \Gamma(z)^{-1} Γ ( z ) − 1 is an entire function so the sum is always an entire function.)
For integer κ \kappa κ the function J κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) is single valued (and even entire for non-negative integer κ \kappa κ ), otherwise it is multivalued, due (only) to the factor ( x / 2 ) κ (x/2)^{\kappa} ( x /2 ) κ . In particular, the zeros of J κ J_{\kappa} J κ are well-defined.
For non-integer κ \kappa κ , a second C C C -linearly independent solution is provided by J − κ ( x ) J_{-\kappa}(x) J − κ ( x ) , and one defines the Bessel function of the second kind , Y κ Y_{\kappa} Y κ , to be
Y κ ( x ) = J κ ( x ) cos ( π κ ) − J − κ ( x ) sin ( π κ ) . Y_{\kappa}(x)=\frac{J_{\kappa}(x)\cos(\pi\kappa)-J_{-\kappa}(x)}{\sin(\pi\kappa)}. Y κ ( x ) = sin ( π κ ) J κ ( x ) cos ( π κ ) − J − κ ( x ) .
For integer κ \kappa κ the functions J κ , J − κ J_{\kappa},J_{-\kappa} J κ , J − κ are dependent (J κ = ( − 1 ) κ J − κ J_{\kappa}=(-1)^{\kappa}J_{-\kappa} J κ = ( − 1 ) κ J − κ ) and one defines the Bessel function of the second kind Y κ Y_{\kappa} Y κ by the limit
Y κ ( x ) = lim α → κ Y α ( x ) , κ ∈ Z . Y_{\kappa}(x)=\lim_{\alpha\to\kappa}Y_{\alpha}(x),\qquad\kappa\in\mathbb{Z}. Y κ ( x ) = α → κ lim Y α ( x ) , κ ∈ Z .
In all cases, J κ , Y κ J_{\kappa},Y_{\kappa} J κ , Y κ are C C C -linearly independent solutions to Bessel’s d.e. of order κ \kappa κ . The Wronskian determinant is given by
Wr ( J κ , Y κ ) = det ( J κ ( x ) Y κ ( x ) J κ ′ ( x ) Y κ ′ ( x ) ) = 2 π x . \operatorname{Wr}(J_{\kappa},Y_{\kappa})=\det\begin{pmatrix}J_{\kappa}(x)&Y_{\kappa}(x)\\J'_{\kappa}(x)&Y'_{\kappa}(x)\end{pmatrix}=\frac{2}{\pi x}. Wr ( J κ , Y κ ) = det ( J κ ( x ) J κ ′ ( x ) Y κ ( x ) Y κ ′ ( x ) ) = π x 2 .
Finally, for all κ \kappa κ , Hankel functions (also known as Bessel functions of the third kind ) are further canonical solutions of Bessel’s differential equation defined by
H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) = J κ ( x ) + i Y κ ( x ) , H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) = J κ ( x ) − i Y κ ( x ) . H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x) = J_{\kappa}(x) + iY_{\kappa}(x), \qquad H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x) = J_{\kappa}(x) - iY_{\kappa}(x). H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) = J κ ( x ) + i Y κ ( x ) , H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) = J κ ( x ) − i Y κ ( x ) .
The principal branches have the asymptotic series
H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) = 2 π x e i ( x − κ π / 2 − π / 4 ) ∑ m = 0 ∞ ( 1 2 − κ ) m ( 1 2 + κ ) m m ! ( 2 i x ) m , H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi x}} e^{i(x-\kappa\pi/2-\pi/4)} \sum_{m=0}^{\infty} \frac{\left(\frac{1}{2}-\kappa\right)_{m}\left(\frac{1}{2}+\kappa\right)_{m}}{m!(2ix)^{m}}, H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) = π x 2 e i ( x − κπ /2 − π /4 ) m = 0 ∑ ∞ m ! ( 2 i x ) m ( 2 1 − κ ) m ( 2 1 + κ ) m ,
H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) = 2 π x e − i ( x − κ π / 2 − π / 4 ) ∑ m = 0 ∞ ( 1 2 − κ ) m ( 1 2 + κ ) m m ! ( − 2 i x ) m , H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi x}} e^{-i(x-\kappa\pi/2-\pi/4)} \sum_{m=0}^{\infty} \frac{\left(\frac{1}{2}-\kappa\right)_{m}\left(\frac{1}{2}+\kappa\right)_{m}}{m!(-2ix)^{m}}, H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) = π x 2 e − i ( x − κπ /2 − π /4 ) m = 0 ∑ ∞ m ! ( − 2 i x ) m ( 2 1 − κ ) m ( 2 1 + κ ) m ,
as ∣ x ∣ → ∞ |x| \to\infty ∣ x ∣ → ∞ in the sectors arg x ∈ ( − π , 2 π ) \arg x \in(-\pi, 2\pi) arg x ∈ ( − π , 2 π ) and arg x ∈ ( − 2 π , π ) \arg x \in(-2\pi, \pi) arg x ∈ ( − 2 π , π ) , where the Pochhammer symbol ( x ) m (x)_m ( x ) m denotes the “raising factorial”
( x ) m = x ( x + 1 ) ⋯ ( x + m − 1 ) . (x)_m = x(x+1)\cdots(x+m-1). ( x ) m = x ( x + 1 ) ⋯ ( x + m − 1 ) .
When κ ∉ Z + 1 / 2 \kappa\notin\mathbb{Z} + 1/2 κ ∈ / Z + 1/2 the differential Galois group is S L 2 ( C ) \mathrm{SL}_{2}(\mathbb{C}) SL 2 ( C ) (see e.g. [20 ] ).
See generally e.g. [5 , 11 , 25 ] .
Definability
For each fixed κ > − 1 2 \kappa> -\frac{1}{2} κ > − 2 1 , consider the functions
f 1 ( x ) = x − 1 e − i x − 1 H κ ( 1 ) ( x − 1 ) , f 2 ( x ) = x − 1 e i x − 1 H κ ( 2 ) ( x − 1 ) , x > 0. f_{1}(x) = \sqrt{x^{-1}}e^{-ix^{-1}}H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x^{-1}), \qquad f_{2}(x) = \sqrt{x^{-1}}e^{ix^{-1}}H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x^{-1}), \qquad x > 0. f 1 ( x ) = x − 1 e − i x − 1 H κ ( 1 ) ( x − 1 ) , f 2 ( x ) = x − 1 e i x − 1 H κ ( 2 ) ( x − 1 ) , x > 0.
2.1. Lemma. The functions f 1 f_{1} f 1 and f 2 f_{2} f 2 extend smoothly to [ 0 , ∞ ) [0,\infty) [ 0 , ∞ ) . Moreover, for any 0 < ε < π / 2 0 < \varepsilon< \pi/2 0 < ε < π /2 , there is a constant C = C ( κ , ε ) > 0 C = C(\kappa,\varepsilon) > 0 C = C ( κ , ε ) > 0 such that
∣ f j ( n ) ( z ) ∣ ≤ C n + 1 n ! 2 , ∀ n ∈ Z ≥ 0 , 0 < ∣ z ∣ ≤ 1 , ∣ arg z ∣ < π − ε , j = 1 , 2. \left|f_{j}^{(n)}(z)\right| \leq C^{n+1}n!^{2}, \qquad\forall n \in\mathbb{Z}_{\geq0},\ 0 < |z| \leq1,\ |\arg z| < \pi-\varepsilon,\ j = 1,2. f j ( n ) ( z ) ≤ C n + 1 n ! 2 , ∀ n ∈ Z ≥ 0 , 0 < ∣ z ∣ ≤ 1 , ∣ arg z ∣ < π − ε , j = 1 , 2. In particular, the real and imaginary parts of f 1 f_{1} f 1 and f 2 f_{2} f 2 are definable on [ 0 , 1 ] [0,1] [ 0 , 1 ] in R G \mathbb{R}_{G} R G and on [ 0 , ∞ ) [0,\infty) [ 0 , ∞ ) in R G , exp \mathbb{R}_{G,\exp} R G , e x p , the o-minimal structures from [12 ] .
Holomorphic functions satisfying such derivative bounds on a bounded sector about the positive real axis of opening greater than π \pi π have Gevrey 1-summable expansions at the origin. In one variable, this is equivalent to the definition in [12 ] ; see [6 , 13 ] (cf. [4 §4.5 E8] for another equivalent definition).
Proof. We begin with the integral identity, initially for positive real z z z and with principal branches:
H κ ( 1 ) ( z ) = ( 2 π z ) 1 / 2 e i ( z − 1 2 π κ − 1 4 π ) Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ − 1 2 ( 1 + i u 2 z ) κ − 1 2 d u H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(z)=\left(\frac{2}{\pi z}\right)^{1/2}\frac{e^{i(z-\frac{1}{2}\pi\kappa-\frac{1}{4}\pi)}}{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}\int_{0}^{\infty}e^{-u}u^{\kappa-\frac{1}{2}}\left(1+\frac{iu}{2z}\right)^{\kappa-\frac{1}{2}}\,du H κ ( 1 ) ( z ) = ( π z 2 ) 1/2 Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) e i ( z − 2 1 π κ − 4 1 π ) ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ − 2 1 ( 1 + 2 z i u ) κ − 2 1 d u
which is stated in [2 §11.6] for the function K κ ( z ) = π 2 i κ + 1 H κ ( 1 ) ( i z ) K_{\kappa}(z)=\frac{\pi}{2}i^{\kappa+1}H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(iz) K κ ( z ) = 2 π i κ + 1 H κ ( 1 ) ( i z ) . Thus, with
c κ = 2 π e − i ( π κ / 2 + π / 4 ) Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) , c_{\kappa}=\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\frac{e^{-i(\pi\kappa/2+\pi/4)}}{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}, c κ = π 2 Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) e − i ( π κ /2 + π /4 ) ,
we have
f 1 ( z ) = c κ ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ − 1 2 ( 1 + i u z 2 ) κ − 1 2 d u . f_{1}(z)=c_{\kappa}\int_{0}^{\infty}e^{-u}u^{\kappa-\frac{1}{2}}\left(1+\frac{iuz}{2}\right)^{\kappa-\frac{1}{2}}\,du. f 1 ( z ) = c κ ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ − 2 1 ( 1 + 2 i u z ) κ − 2 1 d u .
If κ = m + 1 2 \kappa=m+\frac{1}{2} κ = m + 2 1 with m ∈ Z ≥ 0 m\in\mathbb{Z}_{\geq0} m ∈ Z ≥ 0 , this integral is a polynomial in z z z of degree m m m , so the derivative estimates follow directly. For the derivative estimates below, assume that κ ∉ Z + 1 2 \kappa\notin\mathbb{Z}+\frac{1}{2} κ ∈ / Z + 2 1 .
Since
d n d t n ( 1 + t ) κ − 1 2 = Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) Γ ( κ − n + 1 2 ) ( 1 + t ) κ − n − 1 2 , \frac{d^{n}}{dt^{n}}(1+t)^{\kappa-\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\Gamma\left(\kappa-n+\frac{1}{2}\right)}(1+t)^{\kappa-n-\frac{1}{2}}, d t n d n ( 1 + t ) κ − 2 1 = Γ ( κ − n + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) ( 1 + t ) κ − n − 2 1 ,
we get
f 1 ( n ) ( z ) = c κ Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) Γ ( κ − n + 1 2 ) i n 2 n ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ + n − 1 2 ( 1 + i u z 2 ) κ − n − 1 2 d u . f_{1}^{(n)}(z)=c_{\kappa}\frac{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\Gamma\left(\kappa-n+\frac{1}{2}\right)}\frac{i^{n}}{2^{n}}\int_{0}^{\infty}e^{-u}u^{\kappa+n-\frac{1}{2}}\left(1+\frac{iuz}{2}\right)^{\kappa-n-\frac{1}{2}}\,du. f 1 ( n ) ( z ) = c κ Γ ( κ − n + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) 2 n i n ∫ 0 ∞ e − u u κ + n − 2 1 ( 1 + 2 i u z ) κ − n − 2 1 d u .
Fix 0 < ε < π / 2 0<\varepsilon<\pi/2 0 < ε < π /2 . We use the integration ray
arg u = { − π 2 + ε 2 , 0 ≤ arg z < π − ε , π 2 − ε 2 , − π + ε < arg z < 0. \arg u=
\begin{cases}
-\frac{\pi}{2}+\frac{\varepsilon}{2}, & 0\leq\arg z<\pi-\varepsilon,\\
\frac{\pi}{2}-\frac{\varepsilon}{2}, & -\pi+\varepsilon<\arg z<0.
\end{cases} arg u = { − 2 π + 2 ε , 2 π − 2 ε , 0 ≤ arg z < π − ε , − π + ε < arg z < 0.
These contour rotations are first performed for z z z near the positive real axis, where no branch point or branch cut is crossed. For u u u on the chosen ray and z z z in the corresponding sector, we have
Re u = sin ( ε / 2 ) ∣ u ∣ , ε 2 ≤ arg ( i z u / 2 ) ≤ π − ε 2 . \operatorname{Re}u=\sin(\varepsilon/2)|u|,\qquad\frac{\varepsilon}{2}\leq\arg(izu/2)\leq\pi-\frac{\varepsilon}{2}. Re u = sin ( ε /2 ) ∣ u ∣ , 2 ε ≤ arg ( i z u /2 ) ≤ π − 2 ε .
Thus the rotated integrals give analytic continuations into the indicated sectors, and
∣ 1 + i z u 2 ∣ ≥ sin ( ε / 2 ) . \left|1+\frac{izu}{2}\right|\geq\sin(\varepsilon/2). 1 + 2 i z u ≥ sin ( ε /2 ) .
For integers n > κ − 1 2 n > \kappa- \frac{1}{2} n > κ − 2 1 , we conclude, after rescaling the ray parameter, that there is a constant C = C ( κ , ε ) > 0 C = C(\kappa,\varepsilon) > 0 C = C ( κ , ε ) > 0 such that
∣ f 1 ( n ) ( z ) ∣ ≤ C n + 1 ∣ Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) Γ ( κ − n + 1 2 ) ∣ ∫ 0 ∞ e − t t κ + n − 1 2 d t = C n + 1 Γ ( κ + 1 2 ) ∣ Γ ( κ − n + 1 2 ) ∣ Γ ( κ + n + 1 2 ) . \begin{aligned}
\left|f_1^{(n)}(z)\right| \le C^{n+1} \left|\frac{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\Gamma\left(\kappa-n+\frac{1}{2}\right)}\right| \int_0^\infty e^{-t}t^{\kappa+n-\frac{1}{2}}\,dt \\
&= C^{n+1}\frac{\Gamma\left(\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\left|\Gamma\left(\kappa-n+\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|}\Gamma\left(\kappa+n+\frac{1}{2}\right).
\end{aligned} f 1 ( n ) ( z ) ≤ C n + 1 Γ ( κ − n + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) ∫ 0 ∞ e − t t κ + n − 2 1 d t = C n + 1 Γ ( κ − n + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + n + 2 1 ) .
By the reflection formula for the Gamma function and Stirling’s approximation, for these n n n there is a constant C > 0 C > 0 C > 0 such that
Γ ( κ + n + 1 2 ) ∣ Γ ( κ − n + 1 2 ) ∣ = ∣ cos ( π κ ) ∣ π Γ ( n + κ + 1 2 ) Γ ( n − κ + 1 2 ) ≤ C n + 1 n ! 2 . \frac{\Gamma\left(\kappa+n+\frac{1}{2}\right)}{\left|\Gamma\left(\kappa-n+\frac{1}{2}\right)\right|} = \frac{|\cos(\pi\kappa)|}{\pi}\Gamma\left(n+\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right)\Gamma\left(n-\kappa+\frac{1}{2}\right) \le C^{n+1}n!^2. Γ ( κ − n + 2 1 ) Γ ( κ + n + 2 1 ) = π ∣ cos ( π κ ) ∣ Γ ( n + κ + 2 1 ) Γ ( n − κ + 2 1 ) ≤ C n + 1 n ! 2 .
For the finitely many integers 0 ≤ n ≤ κ − 1 2 0 \le n \le\kappa-\frac{1}{2} 0 ≤ n ≤ κ − 2 1 , the same rotated integral gives uniform bounds using ∣ z ∣ ≤ 1 |z| \le1 ∣ z ∣ ≤ 1 and ∣ 1 + i z u / 2 ∣ ≤ 1 + ∣ u ∣ / 2 |1+izu/2| \le1+|u|/2 ∣1 + i z u /2∣ ≤ 1 + ∣ u ∣/2 . Enlarging C C C proves the estimate for all n n n . The same estimate for the function f 2 f_2 f 2 follows from the identity H κ ( 2 ) ( z ) = H κ ( 1 ) ( z ‾ ) H_\kappa^{(2)}(z)=H_\kappa^{(1)}(\overline{z}) H κ ( 2 ) ( z ) = H κ ( 1 ) ( z ) . Dominated convergence in the differentiated integrals as x → 0 + x \to0^+ x → 0 + also gives the asserted smooth extensions.
The sectorial estimates imply that the real and imaginary parts of f 1 f_1 f 1 and f 2 f_2 f 2 are definable in R G \mathbb R_{\mathcal G} R G near 0 0 0 . Their analyticity away from 0 0 0 then gives definability on [ 0 , 1 ] [0,1] [ 0 , 1 ] . For x ≥ 1 x \ge1 x ≥ 1 , put t = 1 / x ∈ ( 0 , 1 ] t=1/x\in(0,1] t = 1/ x ∈ ( 0 , 1 ] . The convergent expansions of J κ ( t ) J_\kappa(t) J κ ( t ) and Y κ ( t ) Y_\kappa(t) Y κ ( t ) express them using functions analytic on a neighborhood of [ 0 , 1 ] [0,1] [ 0 , 1 ] , real powers of t t t , and, for integer κ \kappa κ , log t \log t log t . Since t α = exp ( α log t ) t^\alpha=\exp(\alpha\log t) t α = exp ( α log t ) , these expressions are definable in R a n , exp \mathbb R_{\mathrm{an},\exp} R an , e x p . The factors t 1 / 2 e ∓ i t t^{1/2}e^{\mp it} t 1/2 e ∓ i t use only algebraic functions and restricted sine and cosine. Hence the real and imaginary parts of f 1 f_1 f 1 and f 2 f_2 f 2 are definable on [ 1 , ∞ ) [1,\infty) [ 1 , ∞ ) in R a n , exp ⊆ R G , exp \mathbb R_{\mathrm{an},\exp}\subseteq\mathbb R_{\mathcal G,\exp} R an , e x p ⊆ R G , e x p . □ \square □
Recurrence relation
Bessel functions satisfy the following recurrence relations (see e.g. [11 §10.61] )
J κ + 1 ( x ) = 2 κ x J κ ( x ) − J κ − 1 ( x ) , J κ + 1 ′ ( x ) = − 2 J κ ′ ( x ) + J κ − 1 ′ ( x ) . J_{\kappa+1}(x)=\frac{2\kappa}{x}J_\kappa(x)-J_{\kappa-1}(x), \qquad J_{\kappa+1}'(x)=-2J_\kappa'(x)+J_{\kappa-1}'(x). J κ + 1 ( x ) = x 2 κ J κ ( x ) − J κ − 1 ( x ) , J κ + 1 ′ ( x ) = − 2 J κ ′ ( x ) + J κ − 1 ′ ( x ) .
Eliminating J κ − 1 J_{\kappa-1} J κ − 1 gives a relation between the functions and derivatives of orders κ , κ + 1 \kappa,\kappa+1 κ , κ + 1 .
J κ + 1 ( x ) = κ x J κ ( x ) − J κ ′ ( x ) . J_{\kappa+1}(x)=\frac{\kappa}{x}J_\kappa(x)-J_\kappa'(x). J κ + 1 ( x ) = x κ J κ ( x ) − J κ ′ ( x ) .
Differentiating and using the differential equation will give a similar identity for J κ + 1 ′ ( x ) J_{\kappa+1}'(x) J κ + 1 ′ ( x ) in terms of J κ ( x ) J_\kappa(x) J κ ( x ) , J κ ′ ( x ) J_\kappa'(x) J κ ′ ( x ) , and indeed (see again [11 §10.61] the same identities hold for Y κ ( x ) Y_{\kappa}(x) Y κ ( x ) , H κ ( i ) ( x ) H_{\kappa}^{(i)}(x) H κ ( i ) ( x ) or any C \mathbb{C} C -linear combination of them.
Non-generic order
When κ = m + 1 / 2 ∈ Z + 1 / 2 \kappa=m+1/2\in\mathbb{Z}+1/2 κ = m + 1/2 ∈ Z + 1/2 , the solutions of Bessel’s differential equation are combinations of e ± i x e^{\pm ix} e ± i x , x \sqrt{x} x , and rational functions. Specifically, for a non-negative integer m m m , the Hankel functions are given explicitly by (see [11 10.49(i) via 10.47(ii)] )
H m + 1 / 2 ( 1 ) = ( − i ) m + 1 2 π x e i x ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( i x ) k H_{m+1/2}^{(1)}=(-i)^{m+1}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi x}}e^{ix}\sum_{k=0}^{m}c(m,k)\left(\frac{i}{x}\right)^{k} H m + 1/2 ( 1 ) = ( − i ) m + 1 π x 2 e i x k = 0 ∑ m c ( m , k ) ( x i ) k
H m + 1 / 2 ( 2 ) = i m + 1 2 π x e − i x ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( − i x ) k H_{m+1/2}^{(2)}=i^{m+1}\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi x}}e^{-ix}\sum_{k=0}^{m}c(m,k)\left(\frac{-i}{x}\right)^{k} H m + 1/2 ( 2 ) = i m + 1 π x 2 e − i x k = 0 ∑ m c ( m , k ) ( x − i ) k
where c ( m , k ) = ( m + k ) ! / ( ( m − k ) ! k ! 2 k ) c(m,k)=(m+k)!/((m-k)!k!2^{k}) c ( m , k ) = ( m + k )! / (( m − k )! k ! 2 k ) with (as previously)
H m + 1 / 2 ( 1 ) = J m + 1 / 2 + i Y m + 1 / 2 , H m + 1 / 2 ( 2 ) = J m + 1 / 2 − i Y m + 1 / 2 . H_{m+1/2}^{(1)}=J_{m+1/2}+iY_{m+1/2},\qquad H_{m+1/2}^{(2)}=J_{m+1/2}-iY_{m+1/2}. H m + 1/2 ( 1 ) = J m + 1/2 + i Y m + 1/2 , H m + 1/2 ( 2 ) = J m + 1/2 − i Y m + 1/2 .
For negative non-generic orders one has
H − m − 1 / 2 ( 1 ) = i ( − 1 ) m H m + 1 / 2 ( 1 ) , H − m − 1 / 2 ( 2 ) = − i ( − 1 ) m H m + 1 / 2 ( 2 ) . H_{-m-1/2}^{(1)}=i(-1)^{m}H_{m+1/2}^{(1)},\qquad H_{-m-1/2}^{(2)}=-i(-1)^{m}H_{m+1/2}^{(2)}. H − m − 1/2 ( 1 ) = i ( − 1 ) m H m + 1/2 ( 1 ) , H − m − 1/2 ( 2 ) = − i ( − 1 ) m H m + 1/2 ( 2 ) .
Ax-Lindemann for generic Bessel equations
This section proves a result on the algebraic independence of logarithms and solutions of Bessel’s differential equation with several different generic orders on algebraically dependent arguments. The initial result, for two algebraically dependent arguments, is the key for the general Bessel-Ax-Schanuel statement.
Let x , y x,y x , y be non-constant rational functions on a smooth projective complex curve X X X with (as we may assume) C ( X ) = C ( x , y ) \mathbb{C}(X)=\mathbb{C}(x,y) C ( X ) = C ( x , y ) . We consider the differential field K = C ( x , y ) K=\mathbb{C}(x,y) K = C ( x , y ) with derivation D = d / d x D=d/dx D = d / d x .
We consider the Bessel d.e. on the x x x variable with generic parameter κ \kappa κ , and on y y y with generic parameter λ \lambda λ (and differentiation with respect to y y y ).
Let M / K M/K M / K be a differential field extension, with constant field C \mathbb{C} C , that contains subfields L x , L y L_x,L_y L x , L y , where L x / K L_x/K L x / K is a differential extension of K K K generated by a fundamental matrix formed from two linearly independent solutions z 1 ( x ) , z 2 ( x ) z_1(x),z_2(x) z 1 ( x ) , z 2 ( x ) of Bessel’s d.e. (with order κ \kappa κ ), and L y / K L_y/K L y / K a differential extension of K K K generated by a fundamental matrix formed by two linearly independent solutions w 1 ( y ) , w 2 ( y ) w_1(y), w_2(y) w 1 ( y ) , w 2 ( y ) of Bessel’s d.e. (with order λ \lambda λ ). Thus
td K L x = td K L y = 3. \operatorname{td}_{K}L_x=\operatorname{td}_{K}L_y=3. td K L x = td K L y = 3.
Let L = L x L y L=L_xL_y L = L x L y . Then L x , L y , L L_x,L_y,L L x , L y , L are Picard-Vessiot extensions of K K K .
Theorem 3.1. In the above setting, suppose that
td K L < 6. \operatorname{td}_{K}L<6. td K L < 6. Then either y = x y=x y = x and κ ± λ ∈ Z \kappa\pm\lambda\in\mathbb{Z} κ ± λ ∈ Z , or y = − x y=-x y = − x and κ ± λ ∈ Z \kappa\pm\lambda\in\mathbb{Z} κ ± λ ∈ Z .
Proof. By the results of Kolchin [20 italicized conclusion at the bottom of p 1158] , if td K L < 6 \operatorname{td}_{K}L<6 td K L < 6 then there exist A ∈ GL 2 ( K ) A\in\operatorname{GL}_2(K) A ∈ GL 2 ( K ) , α ∈ L \alpha\in L α ∈ L , with α 2 ∈ K \alpha^2\in K α 2 ∈ K , such that a relation of the form
W y = α A W x C W_y=\alpha A W_x C W y = α A W x C
holds between any pair of fundamental matrices W y W_y W y for the Bessel d.e. on y y y , and W x W_x W x for the Bessel d.e. on x x x , for some (basis dependent) C ∈ GL 2 ( C ) C\in\operatorname{GL}_2(\mathbb{C}) C ∈ GL 2 ( C ) .
We take the canonical Hankel function solutions on P 1 ( C ) \mathbb{P}^1(\mathbb{C}) P 1 ( C ) , and form W x , W y W_x,W_y W x , W y by composing them with the rational functions x , y x,y x , y on the complex curve X X X . They are related as above, and this relation persists under analytic continuation outside of finitely many singular points on X X X (the solutions are in general multivalued).
Suppose P ∈ X P\in X P ∈ X is a point in Poleset ( y ) \operatorname{Poleset}(y) Poleset ( y ) . Then we must have also P ∈ Poleset ( x ) P\in\operatorname{Poleset}(x) P ∈ Poleset ( x ) , otherwise the above relation would not admit an essential singularity in y y y . The converse also holds, so Poleset ( y ) = Poleset ( x ) = Poleset \operatorname{Poleset}(y)=\operatorname{Poleset}(x)=\operatorname{Poleset} Poleset ( y ) = Poleset ( x ) = Poleset .
Let P ∈ Poleset P\in\operatorname{Poleset} P ∈ Poleset . Fix a branch of y y y over x x x and expand y y y in a Puiseux series in x x x :
y = c m x m + c m − 1 / k x m − 1 / k + ⋯ + c 1 x 1 / k + regular terms y=c_mx^m+c_{m-1/k}x^{m-1/k}+\cdots+c_1x^{1/k}+\text{regular terms} y = c m x m + c m − 1/ k x m − 1/ k + ⋯ + c 1 x 1/ k + regular terms
where m ∈ Q m\in\mathbb{Q} m ∈ Q and k k k is some positive integer. The regular terms at ∞ \infty ∞ are those in non-negative powers of x − 1 / k x^{-1/k} x − 1/ k . We will denote the sum of all regular terms at P P P by Reg P ( x ) \operatorname{Reg}_P(x) Reg P ( x ) .
We next consider the exponential factors in the formal asymptotic expansions of the Hankel function solutions at ∞ \infty ∞ and conclude from Kolchin’s relation that, near P P P , we must have
y = ± x + Reg P ( x ) . y=\pm x+\operatorname{Reg}_P(x). y = ± x + Reg P ( x ) .
Thus, in particular, x x x and y y y have the same multiplicity at each point P ∈ Poleset P\in\operatorname{Poleset} P ∈ Poleset , and hence the same number of poles (counted with multiplicity). Now if the sign in y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) y=\pm x+\operatorname{Reg}_{Q}(x) y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) is the same at all Q ∈ Poleset Q\in\operatorname{Poleset} Q ∈ Poleset then y ∓ x y\mp x y ∓ x has no poles and is constant. In that case X = P 1 X=\mathbb{P}^{1} X = P 1 and the zeros of x x x and y y y must coincide, as the Bessel functions have monodromy at the origin. So we have y = ± x y=\pm x y = ± x .
In this case, the conclusion that λ ± κ ∈ Z \lambda\pm\kappa\in\mathbb{Z} λ ± κ ∈ Z follows from the work of Siegel [32 ] (and was reproved by Kolchin [20 ] ). We give another argument.
First, we show that in the relation W y = α A W x C W_y=\alpha A W_x C W y = α A W x C we in fact have α ∈ C ( x ) \alpha\in\mathbb{C}(x) α ∈ C ( x ) . To see this, we observe from α A = W y C − 1 W x − 1 \alpha A=W_y C^{-1}W_x^{-1} α A = W y C − 1 W x − 1 that α \alpha α is unramified outside { 0 , ∞ } \{0,\infty\} { 0 , ∞ } . Further, by looking at the formal Hankel solutions at ∞ \infty ∞ , we see that the factors x − 1 / 2 x^{-1/2} x − 1/2 all cancel, the exponential factors match up, and so α \alpha α is also unramified there. Then the divisor of α 2 \alpha^{2} α 2 has even degree at all non-zero points, and hence also at x = 0 x=0 x = 0 . Therefore its square root α \alpha α is in C ( x ) \mathbb{C}(x) C ( x ) (whose Jacobian is trivial).
Now suppose κ ∉ Z \kappa\notin\mathbb{Z} κ ∈ / Z . Consider W x W_x W x formed from J κ ( x ) , J − κ ( x ) J_{\kappa}(x),J_{-\kappa}(x) J κ ( x ) , J − κ ( x ) . Monodromy around x = 0 x=0 x = 0 is diagonal with entries e ( κ ) , e ( − κ ) e(\kappa),e(-\kappa) e ( κ ) , e ( − κ ) . Hence the monodromy of W y W_y W y around 0 0 0 has the same eigenvalues, so that { e ( ± λ ) } = { e ( ± κ ) } \{e(\pm\lambda)\}=\{e(\pm\kappa)\} { e ( ± λ )} = { e ( ± κ )} , giving λ ± κ ∈ Z \lambda\pm\kappa\in\mathbb{Z} λ ± κ ∈ Z . Otherwise, κ , λ \kappa,\lambda κ , λ are both integers (so again λ ∓ κ ∈ Z \lambda\mp\kappa\in\mathbb{Z} λ ∓ κ ∈ Z ).
Thus to prove the theorem it remains to show that the sign in y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) y=\pm x+\operatorname{Reg}_{Q}(x) y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) is constant over Q ∈ Poleset Q\in\operatorname{Poleset} Q ∈ Poleset .
So let us suppose, as we may, that there is P ∈ Poleset P\in\operatorname{Poleset} P ∈ Poleset at which locally y = + x + Reg P ( x ) y=+x+\operatorname{Reg}_{P}(x) y = + x + Reg P ( x ) . We take the principal Hankel function bases to form W y , W x W_y,W_x W y , W x . We denote by W ~ y , W ~ x \widetilde{W}_y,\widetilde{W}_x W y , W x the corresponding formal solutions given by the asymptotic expansions in the right half-plane. The Kolchin relation
W ~ y = α A W ~ x C \widetilde{W}_y=\alpha A\widetilde{W}_xC W y = α A W x C
is preserved by the summation process. The exponential torus
T μ = ( μ 0 0 μ − 1 ) , μ ∈ C × T_{\mu}=
\begin{pmatrix}
\mu& 0\\
0 & \mu^{-1}
\end{pmatrix},
\qquad\mu\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} T μ = ( μ 0 0 μ − 1 ) , μ ∈ C ×
acts by
W ~ y ↦ W ~ y T μ , W ~ x ↦ W ~ x T μ , \widetilde{W}_y\mapsto\widetilde{W}_yT_{\mu},\qquad\widetilde{W}_x\mapsto\widetilde{W}_xT_{\mu}, W y ↦ W y T μ , W x ↦ W x T μ ,
and this implies that C C C commutes with T μ T_{\mu} T μ and is therefore diagonal.
Now suppose Q ∈ Poleset Q\in\operatorname{Poleset} Q ∈ Poleset (with Q = P Q=P Q = P allowed). We analytically continue the relation
W y = α A W x C W_y=\alpha A W_xC W y = α A W x C
to Q Q Q , where (by doing some extra loop in x x x near Q Q Q ) we may assume that W x W_x W x has returned to the principal branch, while y y y , in the limit of x → ∞ x\to\infty x → ∞ , makes m m m “half-loops” by π i \pi i π i where m ∈ Z m\in\mathbb{Z} m ∈ Z as we have y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) y = \pm x + \operatorname{Reg}_Q(x) y = ± x + Reg Q ( x ) near Q Q Q . The plus sign corresponds to even m m m , the minus sign to odd.
We work on the Riemann surface of the logarithm and write y = y ∗ e m π i y = y^*e^{m\pi i} y = y ∗ e mπ i where y ∗ y^* y ∗ is in the principal branch. So y ∗ = x + Reg Q ( x ) y^* = x + \operatorname{Reg}_Q(x) y ∗ = x + Reg Q ( x ) .
We now apply the “analytic continuation” (with reflection) formula from [11 §10.11] :
W z e m π i = N m W z S ν , m W_{ze^{m\pi i}} = N_m W_z S_{\nu,m} W z e mπ i = N m W z S ν , m
for the Hankel functions of order ν \nu ν where
N m = ( 1 0 0 e m π i ) , N_m = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & e^{m\pi i} \end{pmatrix}, N m = ( 1 0 0 e mπ i ) ,
S ν , m = 1 sin ( ν π ) ( − sin ( ( m − 1 ) ν π ) e ν π i sin ( m ν π ) − e − ν π i sin ( m ν π ) sin ( ( m + 1 ) ν π ) ) , S_{\nu,m} = \frac{1}{\sin(\nu\pi)}
\begin{pmatrix}
-\sin((m-1)\nu\pi) & e^{\nu\pi i}\sin(m\nu\pi) \\
-e^{-\nu\pi i}\sin(m\nu\pi) & \sin((m+1)\nu\pi)
\end{pmatrix}, S ν , m = sin ( ν π ) 1 ( − sin (( m − 1 ) ν π ) − e − ν π i sin ( m ν π ) e ν π i sin ( m ν π ) sin (( m + 1 ) ν π ) ) ,
and where the limiting values are taken for integral ν \nu ν , namely, for ν ∈ Z \nu\in\mathbb{Z} ν ∈ Z ,
S ν , m = ( − ( − 1 ) m ν ( m − 1 ) ( − 1 ) ( m − 1 ) ν e ν π i m − ( − 1 ) ( m − 1 ) ν e − ν π i m ( − 1 ) m ν ( m + 1 ) ) . S_{\nu,m} =
\begin{pmatrix}
-(-1)^{m\nu}(m-1) & (-1)^{(m-1)\nu}e^{\nu\pi i m} \\
-(-1)^{(m-1)\nu}e^{-\nu\pi i m} & (-1)^{m\nu}(m+1)
\end{pmatrix}. S ν , m = ( − ( − 1 ) m ν ( m − 1 ) − ( − 1 ) ( m − 1 ) ν e − ν π im ( − 1 ) ( m − 1 ) ν e ν π im ( − 1 ) m ν ( m + 1 ) ) .
We have
W y ∗ e m π i = N m W y ∗ S λ , m = α A W x C , W_{y^*e^{m\pi i}} = N_m W_{y^*}S_{\lambda,m} = \alpha A W_x C, W y ∗ e mπ i = N m W y ∗ S λ , m = α A W x C ,
so that
N m W ~ y ∗ S λ , m = α A W ~ x C , N_m \widetilde{W}_{y^*}S_{\lambda,m} = \alpha A\widetilde{W}_x C, N m W y ∗ S λ , m = α A W x C ,
and, under the exponential torus,
N m W ~ y ∗ T μ S λ , m = α A W ~ x T μ C . N_m \widetilde{W}_{y^*}T_\mu S_{\lambda,m} = \alpha A\widetilde{W}_xT_\mu C. N m W y ∗ T μ S λ , m = α A W x T μ C .
Comparing the last two relations, and since C − 1 T μ C = T μ C^{-1}T_\mu C = T_\mu C − 1 T μ C = T μ , we find
S λ , m − 1 T μ S λ , m = C − 1 T μ C = T μ . S_{\lambda,m}^{-1}T_\mu S_{\lambda,m} = C^{-1}T_\mu C = T_\mu. S λ , m − 1 T μ S λ , m = C − 1 T μ C = T μ .
This entails that S λ , m S_{\lambda,m} S λ , m is a diagonal matrix.
If λ \lambda λ is irrational then this is only possible if m = 0 m = 0 m = 0 , which immediately gives that y = + x + Reg Q ( x ) y = +x + \operatorname{Reg}_Q(x) y = + x + Reg Q ( x ) . If λ ∈ Z \lambda\in\mathbb{Z} λ ∈ Z we are again reduced to m = 0 m = 0 m = 0 .
So we are left with λ = a / b ∈ Q \lambda= a/b \in\mathbb{Q} λ = a / b ∈ Q for relatively prime integers a , b a,b a , b with b > 2 b > 2 b > 2 as λ ∈ Z + 1 / 2 \lambda\in\mathbb{Z} + 1/2 λ ∈ Z + 1/2 is non-generic and excluded. The condition that S λ , m S_{\lambda,m} S λ , m is diagonal now entails that sin ( m λ π ) = 0 \sin(m\lambda\pi) = 0 sin ( mλπ ) = 0 and hence b ∣ m b\mid m b ∣ m .
Let us consider the (possibly multivalued) function
ϕ = ( y x ) 2 / b \phi= \left(\frac{y}{x}\right)^{2/b} ϕ = ( x y ) 2/ b
on X X X , normalized on some branch by ϕ ( P ) = 1 \phi(P) = 1 ϕ ( P ) = 1 . Note that ϕ \phi ϕ is only ramified at the zeros and poles of y / x y/x y / x , and in particular not in Poleset.
As any path from P P P to Q Q Q may be locally put in the above form (by making suitable loops around Q Q Q ), the condition b ∣ m b\mid m b ∣ m implies that ϕ \phi ϕ is single-valued at Q Q Q , and indeed in a neighbourhood of Q Q Q , as multiple values would differ by roots of unity multiples and so differ too much in their argument near Q Q Q . So ϕ \phi ϕ has only one branch near Q Q Q and hence only one branch (indeed one point Q ∈ Poleset Q \in\operatorname{Poleset} Q ∈ Poleset with this property would suffice for this). Thus, ϕ \phi ϕ is single-valued on X X X .
Since b ∣ m b \mid m b ∣ m , we see that ϕ \phi ϕ takes the value 1 1 1 at all Q ∈ Poleset Q \in\operatorname{Poleset} Q ∈ Poleset . If, at Q Q Q , x , y x,y x , y have (the same) multiplicity k k k then ϕ \phi ϕ takes the value 1 1 1 at Q Q Q with multiplicity k k k . Hence ϕ \phi ϕ takes the value 1 1 1 with total multiplicity at least N N N , where N N N is the degree of x x x . This equals the degree of y y y , as x , y x,y x , y have the same poles with the same multiplicities. On the other hand ϕ \phi ϕ has its zeros only at points where y y y is zero. The total zero multiplicity of ϕ \phi ϕ is then at most 2 N / b 2N/b 2 N / b , which is strictly smaller.
Hence ϕ \phi ϕ is constant, and we conclude that y = x y=x y = x . □
The transcendence indeed drops in the exceptional cases.
Next we consider non-constant rational functions
e 1 , … , e m , x 1 , … , x n e_1,\ldots,e_m,x_1,\ldots,x_n e 1 , … , e m , x 1 , … , x n
on a smooth projective complex curve X X X (with C ( X ) = C ( e i , x j ) \mathbb{C}(X)=\mathbb{C}(e_i,x_j) C ( X ) = C ( e i , x j ) ). We have (multivalued) functions t j = log e j t_j=\log e_j t j = log e j and fundamental matrices W i W_i W i (whose entries are multi-valued functions) for Bessel’s differential equation of generic order κ i \kappa_i κ i in the argument x i x_i x i .
3.2. Theorem. In the above setting, suppose that
td C ( x 1 ) ( e ‾ , t ‾ , x ‾ , W ‾ ) < m + 3 n . \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}(x_1)}(\overline{e},\overline{t},\overline{x},\overline{W}) < m+3n. td C ( x 1 ) ( e , t , x , W ) < m + 3 n . Then either (A) or (B) holds where:
(A) The t j t_j t j are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly dependent modulo C \mathbb{C} C .
(B) There exists distinct indices j , k j,k j , k of the generic Bessel equations such that either
(i) x k = x j x_k=x_j x k = x j (and κ j ± κ k ∈ Z \kappa_j \pm\kappa_k \in\mathbb{Z} κ j ± κ k ∈ Z ), or
(ii) x k = − x j x_k=-x_j x k = − x j (and κ j ± κ k ∈ Z \kappa_j \pm\kappa_k \in\mathbb{Z} κ j ± κ k ∈ Z ).
Proof. By Kolchin’s results [20: Theorem p 1152, Ostrowski’s theorem p 1155, and italicized text bottom p 1158] applied to the Picard-Vessiot extension of C ( X ) \mathbb{C}(X) C ( X ) we get either:
(a) a C \mathbb{C} C linear dependence modulo C \mathbb{C} C of the t j t_j t j , but then by Ax-Schanuel [3 ] this must be a Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linear dependence mod C \mathbb{C} C , giving (A),
or
(b) a pair i , j i,j i , j with i ≠ j i \ne j i = j and a relation as in Theorem 3.1 . This leads to (B). □
Weakly special subvarieties and Ax-Schanuel
We start with the main result of [10 ] . The setting is a principal G G G -bundle P → Y P \to Y P → Y where Y Y Y is a complex algebraic variety and G G G is a complex algebraic group.
Theorem. ([10 Theorem A] ) Let ∇ \nabla ∇ be a G G G -principal flat connection on P → Y P \to Y P → Y with sparse Galois group Gal ( ∇ ) = G \operatorname{Gal}(\nabla)=G Gal ( ∇ ) = G . Let V V V be an irreducible algebraic subvariety of P P P , L \mathcal{L} L a horizontal leaf, and A ⊂ V ∩ L A \subset V \cap\mathcal{L} A ⊂ V ∩ L an irreducible analytic subvariety of P P P .
If dim V < dim G + dim A \dim V < \dim G+\dim A dim V < dim G + dim A then the projection of A A A in Y Y Y is contained in a ∇ \nabla ∇ -special subvariety.
We refer to [10 Lemma 2.3] for the definition of the Galois group Gal ( ∇ ) \operatorname{Gal}(\nabla) Gal ( ∇ ) but note that ∇ \nabla ∇ -special subvarieties, which for us are the (strict) maximal weakly special subvarieties, are the irreducible maximal subvarieties X ⊂ Y X \subset Y X ⊂ Y such that Gal ( ∇ ∣ X ) \operatorname{Gal}(\nabla|_{X}) Gal ( ∇ ∣ X ) is a strict subgroup of Gal ( ∇ ) \operatorname{Gal}(\nabla) Gal ( ∇ ) . See [10 Definition 3.4 (and informally at p1)] for the definition of a “sparse” algebraic group. We note that powers of G m \mathbb{G}_{m} G m are not sparse, but products of G a \mathbb{G}_{a} G a and S L 2 \mathrm{SL}_{2} SL 2 are sparse. Hence we work with the logarithm rather than the exponential.
We consider solutions of a system of logarithm and Bessel differential equations. We take m m m independent copies of the logarithm d.e. d t j d e j = 1 e j \frac{dt_j}{de_j}=\frac{1}{e_j} d e j d t j = e j 1 and n n n copies of the Bessel d.e. with generic orders κ 1 , … , κ n \kappa_1,\ldots,\kappa_n κ 1 , … , κ n on variables x 1 , … , x n x_1,\ldots,x_n x 1 , … , x n . So we have G = G a ( C ) m × S L 2 ( C ) n G=\mathbb{G}_{a}(\mathbb{C})^{m}\times\mathrm{SL}_{2}(\mathbb{C})^{n} G = G a ( C ) m × SL 2 ( C ) n and a principal G G G bundle P → Y P \to Y P → Y , with a G G G -principal flat connection ∇ \nabla ∇ , where Y = ( C × ) m × ( C × ) n Y=(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{m}\times(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{n} Y = ( C × ) m × ( C × ) n , and taking t ˉ = ( t 1 , … , t m ) \bar{t}=(t_1,\ldots,t_m) t ˉ = ( t 1 , … , t m ) and h ˉ = ( h 1 , … , h n ) \bar{h}=(h_1,\ldots,h_n) h ˉ = ( h 1 , … , h n ) , with
P = { ( t ˉ , h ˉ , e ˉ , x ˉ ) ∈ G a ( C ) m × G L 2 ( C ) n × ( C × ) m × ( C × ) n : P=\left\{(\bar{t},\bar{h},\bar{e},\bar{x})\in\mathbb{G}_{a}(\mathbb{C})^{m}\times\mathrm{GL}_{2}(\mathbb{C})^{n}\times(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{m}\times(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{n}:\right. P = { ( t ˉ , h ˉ , e ˉ , x ˉ ) ∈ G a ( C ) m × GL 2 ( C ) n × ( C × ) m × ( C × ) n :
det ( h j ) = 2 π x j , j = 1 , … , n } . \left.\det(h_j)=\frac{2}{\pi x_j},\ j=1,\ldots,n\right\}. det ( h j ) = π x j 2 , j = 1 , … , n } .
Locally on Y Y Y , the field generated by fundamental matrices of solutions has transcendence degree m + 3 n m+3n m + 3 n over C ( Y ) \mathbb{C}(Y) C ( Y ) as the variables are independent.
To get an explicit Ax-Schanuel statement we must explicate the maximal weakly special subvarieties of Y Y Y . In this Picard-Vessiot setting, they are the maximal subvarieties W ⊂ Y W \subset Y W ⊂ Y where the differential Galois group is a strict subgroup of G G G (see [10 Examples 2.1 and 2.5] ).
Proposition. In this setting, the maximal weakly special subvarieties W ⊂ Y W \subset Y W ⊂ Y are the hypersurfaces of the following types:
(i) W W W is defined by an equation e 1 k 1 ⋯ e m k m = c e_1^{k_1}\cdots e_m^{k_m}=c e 1 k 1 ⋯ e m k m = c , where k i ∈ Z k_i \in\mathbb{Z} k i ∈ Z are not all zero, and c ∈ C × c \in\mathbb{C}^{\times} c ∈ C × ;
(ii) W W W is defined by x i = c x_i=c x i = c for some i i i and some c ∈ C × c \in\mathbb{C}^{\times} c ∈ C × ;
(iii) W W W is defined by x j = x k x_j=x_k x j = x k for some k , j ≠ k k,j\ne k k , j = k with κ k ± κ j ∈ Z \kappa_k\pm\kappa_j\in\mathbb{Z} κ k ± κ j ∈ Z ;
(iv) W W W is defined by x j = − x k x_j=-x_k x j = − x k for some k , j ≠ k k,j\ne k k , j = k with κ k ± κ j ∈ Z \kappa_k\pm\kappa_j\in\mathbb{Z} κ k ± κ j ∈ Z .
Proof. If a subvariety W ⊂ Y W\subset Y W ⊂ Y is not contained in a hypersurface of such type then it contains a curve C C C not contained in any such hypersurface, and on such a curve the transcendence degree of the extension does not drop.
To see this, suppose W ⊂ Y W\subset Y W ⊂ Y is a positive dimensional variety on which none of the following countably infinite list of conditions holds: (i)k _k k : e 1 k 1 ⋯ e m k m = c e_1^{k_1}\cdots e_m^{k_m}=c e 1 k 1 ⋯ e m k m = c , where k i ∈ Z k_i\in\mathbb{Z} k i ∈ Z are not all zero, and c ∈ C × c\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} c ∈ C × ; (ii)i _i i : x i = c x_i=c x i = c for some c ∈ C × c\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} c ∈ C × ; (iii)j k _{jk} j k : x j = x k x_j=x_k x j = x k where j ≠ k j\ne k j = k are such that κ k ± κ j ∈ Z \kappa_k\pm\kappa_j\in\mathbb{Z} κ k ± κ j ∈ Z ; (iv)j k _{jk} j k : x j = − x k x_j=-x_k x j = − x k where j ≠ k j\ne k j = k are such that κ k ± κ j ∈ Z \kappa_k\pm\kappa_j\in\mathbb{Z} κ k ± κ j ∈ Z .
The claim is that W W W contains an algebraic curve on which none of these conditions hold.
To prove the claim, let P ∈ W P\in W P ∈ W be a smooth point with all coordinates non-zero. We consider codimension 1 subspaces of the tangent space to W W W at P P P . For each of our conditions, only finitely many such subspaces will give the corresponding condition holding locally.
So we can find a direction avoiding all these conditions, and find an algebraic curve C ⊂ W C\subset W C ⊂ W through P P P with that local direction. □
Now Theorem 4.1 gives a complex form of Ax-Schanuel for Bessel and logarithm functions. It is then a standard matter to deduce a differential field version of Ax-Schanuel from the complex version. We can include Bessel d.e. of non-generic order since C ( e i y , i y ) \mathbb{C}(e^{iy},iy) C ( e i y , i y ) is a finite extension of C ( y , W ( y ) ) \mathbb{C}(y,W(y)) C ( y , W ( y )) when W ( y ) W(y) W ( y ) is a fundamental matrix of a Bessel d.e. of non-generic order.
Proof of Theorem 1.4
First, we get rid of the non-generic Bessel d.e. by including further logarithm d.e, and renumber so that we work with e j e_j e j , their logarithms (i.e. logarithm d.e. solutions) t j t_j t j , x j x_j x j and fundamental matrices for generic Bessel d.e. of orders κ j \kappa_j κ j . We have assumed all e j e_j e j and x j x_j x j are non-constant. Taking a Seidenberg embedding, we have local complex solutions, hence some irreducible one dimensional analytic subvariety A A A of a horizontal leaf of the bundle P P P . Let V V V be its Zariski closure. Possibly enlarging A A A we can assume A A A is a component of the intersection of V V V with a horizontal leaf of the connection. If
td C ( t ˉ , e ˉ , x ˉ , W ˉ ) < ℓ + 3 n + 1 \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}\left(\bar{t},\bar{e},\bar{x},\bar{W}\right)<\ell+3n+1 td C ( t ˉ , e ˉ , x ˉ , W ˉ ) < ℓ + 3 n + 1
then (as rank A = 1 \operatorname{rank} A=1 rank A = 1 and dim G = ℓ + 3 n \dim G=\ell+3n dim G = ℓ + 3 n ) we have
dim V < dim G + dim A \dim V<\dim G+\dim A dim V < dim G + dim A
and we conclude that the locus of e i , x j e_i,x_j e i , x j is in a proper weakly special subvariety, and then the constants defining it are in C \mathbb{C} C . □
One could also give a version with several commuting derivations.
Two Lemmas
In this section, T = { ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s ) ) : s ∈ Δ } T=\{(t_1(s),\ldots,t_n(s)):s\in\Delta\} T = {( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s )) : s ∈ Δ } is a local complex algebraic curve, meaning that we consider the functions t i ( s ) t_i(s) t i ( s ) to be defined on some open ball Δ ⊂ C \Delta\subset\mathbb{C} Δ ⊂ C (say centered at s = 0 s=0 s = 0 ). We assume the image T T T is a relatively open subset of a complex algebraic curve. We may assume without loss of generality that all the t i ( s ) t_i(s) t i ( s ) are holomorphic for s ∈ Δ s\in\Delta s ∈ Δ .
The proofs involve only local arguments (in particular, appeals to Ax-Schanuel), except that in the proof of Lemma 5.2 we eventually reduce to global considerations concerning a certain rational function.
Generic Lemma
Let κ ∈ C \kappa\in\mathbb{C} κ ∈ C be generic. Let V ⊂ ( C × ) n V\subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n be an algebraic subvariety. Suppose T = ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s ) ) T=(t_1(s),\ldots,t_n(s)) T = ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s )) , where s ∈ Δ s\in\Delta s ∈ Δ , is a local complex algebraic curve in C n \mathbb{C}^n C n and that x ˉ ( s ) ∈ V \bar{x}(s)\in V x ˉ ( s ) ∈ V where x ˉ ( s ) = ( x 1 ( s ) , … , x n ( s ) ) \bar{x}(s)=(x_1(s),\ldots,x_n(s)) x ˉ ( s ) = ( x 1 ( s ) , … , x n ( s )) is analytic for s ∈ Δ s\in\Delta s ∈ Δ and satisfies
e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( x j ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( x j ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n . e^{-2\pi i t_j}H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x_j)+e^{2\pi i t_j}H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x_j)=0,\qquad j=1,\ldots,n. e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( x j ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( x j ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n .
Then there is a weakly special subvariety W ⊂ V W\subset V W ⊂ V containing { x ˉ ( s ) } \{\bar{x}(s)\} { x ˉ ( s )} .
Proof. We suppose V ⊂ ( C × ) n V\subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n is strict or the conclusion holds with W = V = ( C × ) n W=V=(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n W = V = ( C × ) n . Let us observe that the system of functions
2 π i t j , e 2 π i t j , x j , W j , 2\pi i t_j,\qquad e^{2\pi i t_j},\qquad x_j,\qquad W_j, 2 π i t j , e 2 π i t j , x j , W j ,
where W j W_j W j is a fundamental matrix for Bessel’s differential equation with parameter κ \kappa κ , has transcendence degree at most
1 + n + dim V + 2 n ≤ n + 3 n 1+n+\dim V+2n\le n+3n 1 + n + dim V + 2 n ≤ n + 3 n
(as dim V < n \dim V<n dim V < n ) and thus we are in the exceptional case of Ax-Schanuel. Let us suppose without loss of generality that x 1 , … , x k x_1,\ldots,x_k x 1 , … , x k are constant, the other n ′ = n − k n'=n-k n ′ = n − k coordinates x j x_j x j (and corresponding t j t_j t j ) non-constant. And suppose m ′ ′ m'' m ′′ of the non-constant t j t_j t j are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly independent modulo C \mathbb{C} C . Suppose further that n ′ ′ n'' n ′′ of the non-constant x x x coordinates are maximal with x j ≠ ± x i x_j\ne\pm x_i x j = ± x i . Let W W W be the weakly special subvariety defined by the constant coordinates and equalities and anti-equalities among the x i x_i x i , and let V ′ ′ ⊂ W ∩ V V'' \subset W \cap V V ′′ ⊂ W ∩ V be the irreducible component containing x ˉ ( s ) \bar{x}(s) x ˉ ( s ) . Then dim W = n ′ ′ \dim W = n'' dim W = n ′′ . Considering the non-constant ± \pm ± -distinct functions x j x_j x j and corresponding t j t_j t j we have transcendence degree at most
1 + m ′ ′ + dim V ′ ′ + 2 n ′ ′ 1 + m'' + \dim V'' + 2n'' 1 + m ′′ + dim V ′′ + 2 n ′′
If dim V ′ ′ < dim W = n ′ ′ \dim V'' < \dim W = n'' dim V ′′ < dim W = n ′′ we are again exceptional for Ax-Schanuel, which implies a further weakly special relation and contradicts our definition of W W W . So W ⊂ V W \subset V W ⊂ V and { x ˉ ( s ) } ⊂ W \{\bar{x}(s)\} \subset W { x ˉ ( s )} ⊂ W . □
Now we establish the corresponding result for a non-generic order κ \kappa κ , finding that the specific form of the Hankel functions entails exactly the same conclusion as the generic case.
5.2. Non-Generic Lemma. Let κ ≠ ± 1 / 2 \kappa\ne\pm1/2 κ = ± 1/2 be non-generic. Let V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n be an algebraic subvariety. Suppose T = ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s ) ) \mathbf{T} = (t_1(s), \ldots, t_n(s)) T = ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s )) , where s ∈ Δ s \in\Delta s ∈ Δ , is a local complex algebraic curve in C n \mathbb{C}^n C n and that x ˉ ( s ) ∈ V \bar{x}(s) \in V x ˉ ( s ) ∈ V where x ˉ ( s ) = ( x 1 ( s ) , … , x n ( s ) ) \bar{x}(s) = (x_1(s), \ldots, x_n(s)) x ˉ ( s ) = ( x 1 ( s ) , … , x n ( s )) is analytic for s ∈ Δ s \in\Delta s ∈ Δ and satisfies
e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( x j ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( x j ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n . e^{-2\pi i t_j} H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x_j) + e^{2\pi i t_j} H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x_j) = 0,\qquad j = 1,\ldots,n. e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( x j ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( x j ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n . Then there is a weakly special subvariety W ⊂ V W \subset V W ⊂ V containing { x ˉ ( s ) } \{\bar{x}(s)\} { x ˉ ( s )} .
Proof. As in 5.1 we may suppose V V V is strict. In the first part of the proof, we work only locally. We may assume that κ \kappa κ is positive. We may also assume that V V V is a strict subvariety or the conclusion is immediate. The given relation leads to (locally)
e 4 π i t j = R ( x j ) e 2 i x j e^{4\pi i t_j} = R(x_j)e^{2ix_j} e 4 π i t j = R ( x j ) e 2 i x j
for j = 1 , … , n j = 1,\ldots,n j = 1 , … , n where R R R is a rational function R = R κ R = R_\kappa R = R κ where κ = m + 1 / 2 \kappa= m + 1/2 κ = m + 1/2 for some positive integer m m m , given by
H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) = − R ( x ) e 2 i x , \frac{H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(x)}{H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(x)} = -R(x)e^{2ix}, H κ ( 2 ) ( x ) H κ ( 1 ) ( x ) = − R ( x ) e 2 i x ,
specifically (see §2)
R = ( − 1 ) m ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( i / x ) k ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( − i / x ) k . R = (-1)^m \frac{\sum_{k=0}^{m} c(m,k)(i/x)^k}{\sum_{k=0}^{m} c(m,k)(-i/x)^k}. R = ( − 1 ) m ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( − i / x ) k ∑ k = 0 m c ( m , k ) ( i / x ) k .
We observe that R R R is non-constant (as κ ≠ ± 1 / 2 \kappa\ne\pm1/2 κ = ± 1/2 ) and has modulus 1 on R × \mathbb{R}^{\times} R × (as numerator and denominator are complex conjugates), and moreover R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 R(x)R(-x) = 1 R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 .
Now some x j x_j x j may be constant, and are so if and only if the corresponding t j t_j t j is constant. Renumbering we ignore these and again conclude if V V V is not a strict subvariety on the non-constant coordinates. So we may and now do assume that all coordinates are non-constant, and V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n is strict.
Let us suppose that the Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linear mod C \mathbb{C} C dimension of { 4 π i t j } \{4\pi i t_j\} { 4 π i t j } is d d d , that the Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linear mod C \mathbb{C} C dimension of { 4 π i t j , 2 i x h } \{4\pi i t_j,2ix_h\} { 4 π i t j , 2 i x h } is d + δ d+\delta d + δ , and that the Zariski closure of the locus of x j x_j x j in ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n ( C × ) n has dimension k k k (with k ≤ n − 1 k\le n-1 k ≤ n − 1 as V V V is a strict subvariety).
Write y j = R ( x j ) y_j=R(x_j) y j = R ( x j ) noting that, locally,
log y j = 4 π i t j − 2 i x j . \log y_j=4\pi i t_j-2ix_j. log y j = 4 π i t j − 2 i x j .
Note also that, since R R R is non-constant, td C ( y ‾ ) = td C ( x ‾ ) = k \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}(\overline{y})=\operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}(\overline{x})=k td C ( y ) = td C ( x ) = k . Let further r r r be the multiplicative rank of { y j } \{y_j\} { y j } modulo constants.
By Ax-Schanuel, taking logarithms locally, we have
1 + r ≤ td C ( log y ‾ , y ‾ ) . 1+r\le\operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}\left(\log\overline{y},\overline{y}\right). 1 + r ≤ td C ( log y , y ) .
The t j t_j t j are pairwise algebraic over each other. So an upper bound for this transcendence degree is 1 + k 1+k 1 + k . If however the t j t_j t j are algebraic over C ( x ‾ ) \mathbb{C}(\overline{x}) C ( x ) then transcendence degree is k k k and r < k r<k r < k is a contradiction. So we conclude that the t j t_j t j are not algebraic over C ( x ‾ ) \mathbb{C}(\overline{x}) C ( x ) , and r = k r=k r = k .
Now we observe that
td C ( 4 π i t ‾ , exp ( 4 π i t ‾ ) , 2 i x ‾ , exp ( 2 i x ‾ ) ) ≤ min ( 1 + δ + d + 0 , 1 + k + d + 0 ) \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}\left(4\pi i\overline{t},\exp(4\pi i\overline{t}),2i\overline{x},\exp(2i\overline{x})\right)\le\min(1+\delta+d+0,1+k+d+0) td C ( 4 π i t , exp ( 4 π i t ) , 2 i x , exp ( 2 i x ) ) ≤ min ( 1 + δ + d + 0 , 1 + k + d + 0 )
(as each exp ( 2 i x j ) \exp(2ix_j) exp ( 2 i x j ) is algebraic over x j , exp ( 4 π i t j ) x_j,\exp(4\pi i t_j) x j , exp ( 4 π i t j ) ), the minimum permitted by Ax-Schanuel. Therefore
1 + δ ≤ td C ( 4 π i t ‾ , 2 i x ‾ ) ≤ 1 + δ + d − d 1+\delta\le\operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{C}}\left(4\pi i\overline{t},2i\overline{x}\right)\le1+\delta+d-d 1 + δ ≤ td C ( 4 π i t , 2 i x ) ≤ 1 + δ + d − d
and we have equality. But this transcendence degree is 1 + k 1+k 1 + k , and we conclude that k = δ k=\delta k = δ .
Now suppose (after renumbering) that 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k 2ix_1,\ldots,2ix_k 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly independent over the 4 π i t j 4\pi i t_j 4 π i t j modulo constants. The remaining 2 i x h 2ix_h 2 i x h satisfy Q \mathbb{Q} Q linear relations mod constants over 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k 2ix_1,\ldots,2ix_k 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k and the 4 π i t j 4\pi i t_j 4 π i t j . But as the t j t_j t j are not algebraic over x ‾ \overline{x} x , we see that these relations must be just Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linear mod constant over 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k 2ix_1,\ldots,2ix_k 2 i x 1 , … , 2 i x k .
Therefore, all the algebraic relations (and there is at least one) defining the Zariski closure of the locus { x ‾ } \{\overline{x}\} { x } in ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n ( C × ) n are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linear-mod-C \mathbb{C} C relations. We have that x 1 , … , x k x_1,\ldots,x_k x 1 , … , x k are independent while
x h = ∑ q h j x j + c h , h = k + 1 , … , n x_h=\sum q_{hj}x_j+c_h,\qquad h=k+1,\ldots,n x h = ∑ q hj x j + c h , h = k + 1 , … , n
where q h j ∈ Q q_{hj}\in\mathbb{Q} q hj ∈ Q are not all zero and c h ∈ C c_h\in\mathbb{C} c h ∈ C .
Now also y 1 , … , y k y_1,\ldots,y_k y 1 , … , y k are algebraically independent over C \mathbb{C} C , and defined by multiplicative relations modulo C \mathbb{C} C , so we conclude that there are multiplicative relations
y h α h h = b h ∏ j = 1 k y j α h j , h = k + 1 , … , n , y_h^{\alpha_{hh}} = b_h \prod_{j=1}^{k} y_j^{\alpha_{hj}}, \qquad h = k+1,\ldots,n, y h α hh = b h j = 1 ∏ k y j α hj , h = k + 1 , … , n ,
where α h h ≠ 0 \alpha_{hh} \ne0 α hh = 0 and α h j ∈ Z \alpha_{hj} \in\mathbb{Z} α hj ∈ Z , j = 1 , … , k j = 1,\ldots,k j = 1 , … , k are not all zero, and b h ∈ C b_h \in\mathbb{C} b h ∈ C . Now we can work globally with the two algebraic varieties and the rational map. Combining, we have (for h = k + 1 , … , n h = k+1,\ldots,n h = k + 1 , … , n )
R ( ∑ j = 1 k q h j x j + c h ) α h h = b h ∏ j = 1 k R ( x j ) α h j . R\left(\sum_{j=1}^{k} q_{hj}x_j+c_h\right)^{\alpha_{hh}} = b_h \prod_{j=1}^{k} R(x_j)^{\alpha_{hj}}. R ( j = 1 ∑ k q hj x j + c h ) α hh = b h j = 1 ∏ k R ( x j ) α hj .
As R R R is non-constant with its poles conjugate to its zeros, and vice versa, it has at least one pole. Then since the variables x 1 , … , x k x_1,\ldots,x_k x 1 , … , x k are independent, for each h h h there can be at most one non-zero α h ℓ \alpha_{h\ell} α h ℓ , and by degree considerations, and it can only be α h ℓ = ± α h h \alpha_{h\ell} = \pm\alpha_{hh} α h ℓ = ± α hh . Then
∑ j = 1 k q h j x j + c h = q h ℓ x ℓ + c . \sum_{j=1}^{k} q_{hj}x_j+c_h = q_{h\ell}x_\ell+c. j = 1 ∑ k q hj x j + c h = q h ℓ x ℓ + c .
So we are reduced to considering (dropping subscripts, and according as α = ± 1 \alpha= \pm1 α = ± 1 ) the possibilities
R ( q x + c ) = b R ( x ) , R ( q x + c ) R ( x ) = b R(qx+c)=bR(x), \qquad R(qx+c)R(x)=b R ( q x + c ) = b R ( x ) , R ( q x + c ) R ( x ) = b
We consider the first (α = 1 \alpha=1 α = 1 ) case.
Suppose q = 1 q=1 q = 1 . This is impossible if c ≠ 0 c\ne0 c = 0 , while if c = 0 c=0 c = 0 we have b = 1 b=1 b = 1 and equality holds.
Suppose q ≠ 1 q\ne1 q = 1 . Consider the map x ↦ q x + c x\mapsto qx+c x ↦ q x + c . If we write ξ = x − δ \xi=x-\delta ξ = x − δ then the transformation on ξ \xi ξ is ξ ↦ q ξ + ( q δ + c − δ ) \xi\mapsto q\xi+(q\delta+c-\delta) ξ ↦ q ξ + ( q δ + c − δ ) . So since q ≠ 1 q\ne1 q = 1 we can choose δ \delta δ such that the map on ξ \xi ξ is ξ ↦ q ξ \xi\mapsto q\xi ξ ↦ q ξ . If this map has infinite order then such a relation R ∗ ( q ξ ) = b R ∗ ( ξ ) R^*(q\xi)=bR^*(\xi) R ∗ ( q ξ ) = b R ∗ ( ξ ) , where R ∗ ( ξ ) = R ( ξ + δ ) R^*(\xi)=R(\xi+\delta) R ∗ ( ξ ) = R ( ξ + δ ) is impossible as R ∗ R^* R ∗ has a zero (and a pole).
This leaves us to consider q = − 1 q=-1 q = − 1 . As x ↦ − x + c x\mapsto-x+c x ↦ − x + c is an involution we must have b 2 = 1 b^2=1 b 2 = 1 so b = ± 1 b=\pm1 b = ± 1 . Also we know that R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 R(x)R(-x)=1 R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 . So
R ( − x + c ) = b R ( x ) = b / R ( − x ) therefore R ( − x ) R ( − x + c ) = b R(-x+c)=bR(x)=b/R(-x) \qquad\text{therefore} \qquad R(-x)R(-x+c)=b R ( − x + c ) = b R ( x ) = b / R ( − x ) therefore R ( − x ) R ( − x + c ) = b
which we may rewrite as
R ( x ) R ( x + c ) = b = ± 1. R(x)R(x+c)=b=\pm1. R ( x ) R ( x + c ) = b = ± 1.
Now if x 0 x_0 x 0 is a zero of R R R then x 0 + c x_0+c x 0 + c is a pole, while if x 0 + c x_0+c x 0 + c (in first factor) is a pole then x 0 + 2 c x_0+2c x 0 + 2 c is a zero. This gives a contradiction if c ≠ 0 c\ne0 c = 0 . But c = 0 c=0 c = 0 is also impossible as R R R is non-constant.
So for α = 1 \alpha= 1 α = 1 the only possibility is the trivial q = 1 q = 1 q = 1 , c = 0 c = 0 c = 0 , b = 1 b = 1 b = 1 , i.e. x h = x j x_h = x_j x h = x j for some j = 1 , … , k j = 1,\ldots,k j = 1 , … , k .
Now we consider α = − 1 \alpha= -1 α = − 1 , i.e. R ( q x + c ) R ( x ) = b R(qx+c)R(x) = b R ( q x + c ) R ( x ) = b . If q = 1 q = 1 q = 1 this is impossible as above. If q ≠ ± 1 q \ne\pm1 q = ± 1 then the map x ↦ q x + c x \mapsto qx+c x ↦ q x + c has infinite order (recall q ∈ Q q \in\mathbb{Q} q ∈ Q ) and leads to a contradiction.
So we consider q = − 1 q = -1 q = − 1 and we have the relation R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 R(x)R(-x) = 1 R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 so we need to consider if a second such relation (with c ≠ 0 c \ne0 c = 0 ) is possible.
It isn’t, as the orbits under the two maps are infinite.
So for α = − 1 \alpha= -1 α = − 1 the only possibility is R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 R(x)R(-x) = 1 R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 , i.e. x h = − x j x_h = -x_j x h = − x j for some j = 1 , … , k j = 1,\ldots,k j = 1 , … , k .
And such a relation must occur unless V V V contains the weakly special given by the constant x i x_i x i .
Repeating on the new weakly special we eventually find a positive-dimensional weakly special subvariety W ⊂ V W \subset V W ⊂ V containing the locus { x ‾ ( s ) } \{\overline{x}(s)\} { x ( s )} . □
Bessel-Manin-Mumford
Proof of Theorem 1.2
Let κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) ∖ { 1 / 2 } \kappa\in[0,\infty)\setminus\{1/2\} κ ∈ [ 0 , ∞ ) ∖ { 1/2 } and V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n .
We can deal with the finitely many non-real zeros by a simple reduction after which it suffices to consider non-zero real zeros only (which, as has been noted, are symmetrically located about x = 0 x = 0 x = 0 ).
We prove the theorem by induction on the ambient dimension n n n . The conclusion is clear for n = 1 n = 1 n = 1 . Now we consider V ⊂ ( C × ) n V \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n V ⊂ ( C × ) n and suppose the theorem holds for all subvarieties U ⊂ ( C × ) m U \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^m U ⊂ ( C × ) m , m < n m < n m < n .
The weakly special subvarieties in ( C × ) n (\mathbb{C}^{\times})^n ( C × ) n come in finitely many families, indexed by the subset of variables that is constant (which may be empty) and the equalities (or anti-equalities) among other coordinates. There are only finitely many weakly special subvarieties that have no constant coordinates. If V V V is strict, we need consider only such “strongly special” weakly specials with some pair of equal coordinates, and the conclusion for these follows by induction. For any other family T T T of weakly special subvarieties of positive dimension, the set of constant coordinates has size m ( T ) < n m(T) < n m ( T ) < n and the weakly special subvarieties of this type that are contained in V V V constitute a subvariety V T ⊂ ( C × ) m ( T ) V_T \subset(\mathbb{C}^{\times})^{m(T)} V T ⊂ ( C × ) m ( T ) . The special subvarieties of type T T T contained in V V V correspond to special points in V T V_T V T . By induction the conclusion holds for each V T V_T V T .
The union of all positive-dimensional weakly special subvarieties of V V V is an algebraic subvariety V p w s p V^{\mathrm{pwsp}} V pwsp , and it suffices to show that the estimate in the conclusion of Theorem 1.2 holds for V − V p w s p V - V^{\mathrm{pwsp}} V − V pwsp , in which all special subvarieties are special points. We have the definable set
Z = Z n , κ ( V ) = { ( t 1 , … , t n ) ∈ R n : ∃ x 1 , … , x n ∈ ( R × ) n : Z=Z_{n,\kappa}(V)=\{(t_1,\ldots,t_n)\in\mathbb{R}^n:\exists x_1,\ldots,x_n\in(\mathbb{R}^{\times})^n: Z = Z n , κ ( V ) = {( t 1 , … , t n ) ∈ R n : ∃ x 1 , … , x n ∈ ( R × ) n :
( x 1 , … , x n ) ∈ V − V p w s p , 0 ≤ ∣ x j ∣ − 2 π t j < 2 π , j = 1 , … , n , and (x_1,\ldots,x_n)\in V-V^{\mathrm{pwsp}},\qquad0\leq|x_j|-2\pi t_j<2\pi,\quad j=1,\ldots,n,\quad\text{and} ( x 1 , … , x n ) ∈ V − V pwsp , 0 ≤ ∣ x j ∣ − 2 π t j < 2 π , j = 1 , … , n , and
e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( ∣ x j ∣ ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( ∣ x j ∣ ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n } . e^{-2\pi i t_j}H_{\kappa}^{(1)}(|x_j|)+e^{2\pi i t_j}H_{\kappa}^{(2)}(|x_j|)=0,\quad j=1,\ldots,n\}. e − 2 π i t j H κ ( 1 ) ( ∣ x j ∣ ) + e 2 π i t j H κ ( 2 ) ( ∣ x j ∣ ) = 0 , j = 1 , … , n } .
Given t ˉ ∈ Z \bar{t}\in Z t ˉ ∈ Z , by the definability, there is a uniform finite bound on the number of x ˉ \bar{x} x ˉ satisfying the condition (which cannot hold on an interval of positive length).
Any locally defined positive-dimensional semi-algebraic curve in Z Z Z , say ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s ) ) (t_1(s),\ldots,t_n(s)) ( t 1 ( s ) , … , t n ( s )) for s ∈ I s\in I s ∈ I some real interval, may be locally complexified. Further, the corresponding functions x j ( s ) , s ∈ I x_j(s),s\in I x j ( s ) , s ∈ I may be assumed to be real analytic (perhaps on a smaller interval), by analytic cell decomposition in R a n \mathbb{R}_{\mathrm{an}} R an , as the implicitly defined function x ( t ) x(t) x ( t ) is locally analytic, and hence may also be complexified (perhaps on a smaller disk Δ \Delta Δ ). Moreover, if t i ( s ) t_i(s) t i ( s ) is non-constant then x i ( s ) x_i(s) x i ( s ) is non-constant (and vice versa). Locally, we have ∣ x j ∣ = σ j x j |x_j|=\sigma_jx_j ∣ x j ∣ = σ j x j with a locally constant sign σ j ∈ { ± 1 } \sigma_j\in\{\pm1\} σ j ∈ { ± 1 } . So, by the Lemmas in §5, ( ∣ x 1 ∣ , … , ∣ x n ∣ ) (|x_1|,\ldots,|x_n|) ( ∣ x 1 ∣ , … , ∣ x n ∣ ) lies in a positive-dimensional weakly special subvariety W W W of V σ ˉ = { ( x 1 , … , x n ) : ( σ 1 x 1 , … , σ n x n ) ∈ V } V^{\bar{\sigma}}=\{(x_1,\ldots,x_n):(\sigma_1x_1,\ldots,\sigma_nx_n)\in V\} V σ ˉ = {( x 1 , … , x n ) : ( σ 1 x 1 , … , σ n x n ) ∈ V } . Hence x ˉ \bar{x} x ˉ lies in the positive-dimensional weakly special subvariety W σ ˉ ⊂ V W^{\bar{\sigma}}\subset V W σ ˉ ⊂ V .
Now we apply block counting to Z Z Z and conclude that the integer points in V V V are contained in at most c ( Z , ϵ ) T ϵ c(Z,\epsilon)T^\epsilon c ( Z , ϵ ) T ϵ blocks. For blocks of positive dimension, the corresponding points in V V V would lie in some positive-dimensional weakly special W ⊂ V W\subset V W ⊂ V , which we have removed. So all the blocks are zero-dimensional.
There are at most c ( Z , ϵ ) T ϵ c(Z,\epsilon)T^\epsilon c ( Z , ϵ ) T ϵ zero-dimensional blocks, each corresponding to a uniformly finite number of isolated special points in V V V . The proof is therefore complete by induction.
When κ \kappa κ is non-generic (but κ ≠ 1 / 2 \kappa\neq1/2 κ = 1/2 ), all the counting estimates are poly-logarithmic by [9 ] . □
Remark
6.2. Remark. We note that all constants are uniform for V V V in a definable family. Moreover, as Bessel zeros for real order are real (with finitely many exceptions) we can use the uniform definability of real power functions to achieve uniformity in fewnomial families. This is simpler than the corresponding deduction in [8 ] where a fewnomial differential elimination result is required as well.
Bessel distance sets and Fuglede problem
Up to dilation, the Fuglede problem concerns sets Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^m Λ ⊂ R m whose non-zero distances are zeros of J m / 2 J_{m/2} J m /2 . We will call such a set a Bessel distance set, even more generally when the non-zero distances of points in Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^{m} Λ ⊂ R m are zeros of J κ J_{\kappa} J κ for some real number κ \kappa κ that is not necessarily equal to m / 2 m/2 m /2 . We exclude κ = ± 1 / 2 \kappa=\pm1/2 κ = ± 1/2 for which the distances are (up to scaling) integers. We will prove the following, which clearly implies Theorem 1.5 .
Theorem 7.1. Let κ ∈ R + \kappa\in\mathbb{R}_{+} κ ∈ R + , κ ≠ 1 / 2 \kappa\ne1/2 κ = 1/2 , m ≥ 1 m \ge1 m ≥ 1 , ϵ > 0 \epsilon> 0 ϵ > 0 and Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^{m} Λ ⊂ R m a set of points whose non-zero distances are all zeros of J κ J_{\kappa} J κ . Then there is a constant C = C ( κ , m , ϵ ) C=C(\kappa,m,\epsilon) C = C ( κ , m , ϵ ) such that, for R ≥ 1 R \ge1 R ≥ 1 ,
# Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ C R ϵ \#\Lambda\cap[-R,R]^{m} \le CR^{\epsilon} #Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ C R ϵ If κ = r + 1 / 2 \kappa=r+1/2 κ = r + 1/2 for an integer r ≥ 1 r \ge1 r ≥ 1 this estimate may be improved to
# Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ C ( log R ) c \#\Lambda\cap[-R,R]^{m} \le C(\log R)^{c} #Λ ∩ [ − R , R ] m ≤ C ( log R ) c for suitable constants C = C ( m , κ ) C=C(m,\kappa) C = C ( m , κ ) , c = c ( m , κ ) c=c(m,\kappa) c = c ( m , κ ) and R ≥ e R \ge e R ≥ e .
Given positive integers k k k , m m m one can consider the distance variety V k , R m V_{k,\mathbb{R}^{m}} V k , R m defined to be the image in R k ( k − 1 ) / 2 \mathbb{R}^{k(k-1)/2} R k ( k − 1 ) /2 of the map
( R m ) k ⟶ R k ( k − 1 ) / 2 , (\mathbb{R}^{m})^{k} \longrightarrow\mathbb{R}^{k(k-1)/2}, ( R m ) k ⟶ R k ( k − 1 ) /2 ,
( P 1 , … , P k ) ⟼ ( d ( P i , P j ) : 1 ≤ i < j ≤ k ) (P_{1},\ldots,P_{k}) \longmapsto(d(P_{i},P_{j}):1\le i<j\le k) ( P 1 , … , P k ) ⟼ ( d ( P i , P j ) : 1 ≤ i < j ≤ k )
on points P 1 , … , P k ∈ R m P_{1},\ldots,P_{k}\in\mathbb{R}^{m} P 1 , … , P k ∈ R m . Here we do fix some ordering of the pairs ( i , j ) (i,j) ( i , j ) , so V V V is not just the variety of distances but retains a little more information. The image is invariant under permuting the points. It is well known that if k ≥ m + 2 k\ge m+2 k ≥ m + 2 then the image is contained in a strict subvariety; in particular, if k = m + 2 k=m+2 k = m + 2 , the Cayley-Menger determinant
CM m ( d ‾ ) = ( 0 d 12 2 d 13 2 ⋯ d 1 k 2 1 d 12 2 0 d 23 2 ⋯ d 2 k 2 1 d 13 2 d 23 2 0 ⋱ d 3 k 2 1 ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ ⋮ d 1 k 2 d 2 k 2 d 3 k 2 ⋯ 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 ) \operatorname{CM}_{m}(\overline{d})=
\begin{pmatrix}
0 & d_{12}^{2} & d_{13}^{2} & \cdots& d_{1k}^{2} & 1 \\
d_{12}^{2} & 0 & d_{23}^{2} & \cdots& d_{2k}^{2} & 1 \\
d_{13}^{2} & d_{23}^{2} & 0 & \ddots& d_{3k}^{2} & 1 \\
\vdots& \vdots& \vdots& \ddots& \vdots& \vdots\\
d_{1k}^{2} & d_{2k}^{2} & d_{3k}^{2} & \cdots& 0 & 1 \\
1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0
\end{pmatrix} CM m ( d ) = 0 d 12 2 d 13 2 ⋮ d 1 k 2 1 d 12 2 0 d 23 2 ⋮ d 2 k 2 1 d 13 2 d 23 2 0 ⋮ d 3 k 2 1 ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋱ ⋯ 1 d 1 k 2 d 2 k 2 d 3 k 2 ⋮ 0 1 1 1 1 ⋮ 1 0
vanishes on the image. (The image is also governed by suitable triangle inequalities.)
We will see that V 4 , R 2 V_{4,\mathbb{R}^{2}} V 4 , R 2 contains no positive-dimensional weakly Bessel special subvarieties, other than degenerate ones in which some points coincide. Hence Bessel-Manin-Mumford implies something notionally stronger than Theorem 7.1 , that the number of 4-tuples of points in Λ \Lambda Λ whose distances are in [ R , R ] 6 [R,R]^{6} [ R , R ] 6 is R ϵ R^{\epsilon} R ϵ .
But V 5 , R 3 V_{5,\mathbb{R}^{3}} V 5 , R 3 does contain positive dimensional non-degenerate weakly special subvarieties. For example, if 4 points, considered fixed, lie on a circle in a 2-plane then a point on the normal to the 2-plane at the center of the circle will be equidistant to all four points and its distance can vary. The distance has some minimum (the radius of the circle), and so formally V 4 , R 2 V_{4,\mathbb{R}^{2}} V 4 , R 2 does not contain all the real points of the corresponding weakly Bessel special subvariety. Now Fuglede’s conjecture would exclude the existence of such a four tuple with Bessel distances. That however seems to require proving their algebraic independence and seems out of reach.
We will then work with a variety formed by fixing some initial points P 2 , … , P m + 2 P_{2},\ldots,P_{m+2} P 2 , … , P m + 2 in suitably general position and considering the image of
R m ⟶ R m + 1 , P 1 ↦ ( d ( P 1 , P 2 ) , … , d ( P 1 , P m + 2 ) ) . \mathbb{R}^{m}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R}^{m+1},\qquad P_{1}\mapsto\left(d(P_{1},P_{2}),\ldots,d(P_{1},P_{m+2})\right). R m ⟶ R m + 1 , P 1 ↦ ( d ( P 1 , P 2 ) , … , d ( P 1 , P m + 2 ) ) .
Further, to avoid awkward issues about weakly specials being contained “in full dimension” yet not fully contained in varieties under consideration (as above), it is convenient to work with complex algebraic varieties.
Thus, given P 2 , … , P m + 2 ∈ C m P_{2},\ldots,P_{m+2}\in\mathbb{C}^{m} P 2 , … , P m + 2 ∈ C m we consider the variety V P ⊂ C m + 1 V_{P}\subset\mathbb{C}^{m+1} V P ⊂ C m + 1 defined by the equation
CM m ( d ˉ ) = 0. \operatorname{CM}_{m}(\bar{d})=0. CM m ( d ˉ ) = 0.
In what follows, by points in R M \mathbb{R}^{M} R M being in affine general position we mean that no m + 1 m+1 m + 1 of them lie on any m − 1 m-1 m − 1 -dimensional affine linear subspace.
Proposition
Proposition. If the m + 1 m+1 m + 1 points P 2 , … , P m + 2 ∈ R m P_{2},\ldots,P_{m+2}\in\mathbb{R}^{m} P 2 , … , P m + 2 ∈ R m are in affine general position then any weakly special subvariety of positive dimension contained in V P V_{P} V P has the property that: among the “free” variables, two must be equal.
Proof. This can be seen in the structure of CM m ( d ˉ ) \operatorname{CM}_{m}(\bar{d}) CM m ( d ˉ ) . If some d 1 i d_{1i} d 1 i are constant and the others are free but independent, the quartic terms in the non-constant d i 1 d_{i1} d i 1 in CM m ( d ˉ ) \operatorname{CM}_{m}(\bar{d}) CM m ( d ˉ ) cannot vanish: their coefficients are non-zero by [7 Proposition 9.7.3.2] (the determinant, suitably normalized, is equal to the squared volume of the polytope formed by the points) and the affine general position. □
We are now ready to prove Theorem 7.1.
Proof of Theorem 7.1
The proof is by induction on m m m .
For m = 1 m=1 m = 1 , consider Λ ⊂ R \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R} Λ ⊂ R (and κ ∈ R + , κ ≠ ± 1 / 2 \kappa\in\mathbb{R}_{+},\kappa\ne\pm1/2 κ ∈ R + , κ = ± 1/2 ). Suppose that Λ \Lambda Λ contains two distinct points P 1 , P 2 P_{1},P_{2} P 1 , P 2 , where we may as well assume P 1 = 0 P_{1}=0 P 1 = 0 and P 2 = R 0 > 0 P_{2}=R_{0}>0 P 2 = R 0 > 0 . We consider the map sending a third point Q Q Q to the point ( d ( Q , P 1 ) , d ( Q , P 2 ) ) ∈ R 2 \left(d(Q,P_{1}),d(Q,P_{2})\right)\in\mathbb{R}^{2} ( d ( Q , P 1 ) , d ( Q , P 2 ) ) ∈ R 2 . The image lies on the variety V P ⊂ C 2 V_{P}\subset\mathbb{C}^{2} V P ⊂ C 2 defined by the vanishing of CM 1 \operatorname{CM}_{1} CM 1 . The image is not weakly special (which is easy to see directly but also follows from Proposition 7.2), and so the number # MSV ( W , T ) \#\operatorname{MSV}(W,T) # MSV ( W , T ) of maximal special subvarieties contained in a variety W W W with height up to T T T satisfies
# MSV ( V P ‾ , T ) ≤ c ( ϵ ) T ϵ \#\operatorname{MSV}(V_{\overline{P}},T) \leq c(\epsilon)T^{\epsilon} # MSV ( V P , T ) ≤ c ( ϵ ) T ϵ
for this family of varieties (i.e. uniformly in P 0 P_0 P 0 , P 1 P_1 P 1 ).
Now suppose the conclusion holds for all m ′ < m m' < m m ′ < m and Λ ⊂ R m \Lambda\subset\mathbb{R}^m Λ ⊂ R m . Suppose first that Λ \Lambda Λ contains m + 1 m+1 m + 1 points P ‾ = ( P 0 , … , P m ) \overline{P}=(P_0,\ldots,P_m) P = ( P 0 , … , P m ) in affine general position. Then we consider V P ‾ V_{\overline{P}} V P . By Proposition 7.2 , and a positive-dimensional weakly special subvariety of V P ‾ V_{\overline{P}} V P has an equality among the non-constant variables. So any Q Q Q lying on such a subvariety lies on a hyperplane determined by two of the points P i ≠ P j P_i \neq P_j P i = P j . There are ( m + 1 ) m / 2 (m+1)m/2 ( m + 1 ) m /2 such hyperplanes, and the induction hypothesis applies to them. Otherwise, Q Q Q is an isolated special point.
If Λ \Lambda Λ does not contain m + 1 m+1 m + 1 points in affine general position then all the points in Λ \Lambda Λ lie in some affine hyperplane, and the conclusion follows by induction. □ \square □
As noted, V 5 , R 3 V_{5,\mathbb{R}^3} V 5 , R 3 does contain positive-dimensional non-degenerate weakly special subvarieties. It may be that all positive dimensional non-degenerate weakly special subvarieties in all dimensions arise in a similar way (from configurations that, if special, would be Fuglede counterexamples in lower dimension).
However, in R 2 \mathbb{R}^2 R 2 we can exclude positive-dimensional weakly special subvarieties, and as a consequence we show that the counterexamples to Fuglede’s conjecture in R 2 \mathbb{R}^2 R 2 must be sparse. This is notionally a stronger result than the T ϵ T^\epsilon T ϵ bound for sets of orthogonal exponentials, though it leads only to a T ϵ T^\epsilon T ϵ bound with “smaller ϵ \epsilon ϵ ”.
In the following, V 4 , C 2 V_{4,\mathbb{C}^2} V 4 , C 2 is the variety in C 6 \mathbb{C}^6 C 6 defined by the vanishing of CM 2 \operatorname{CM}_2 CM 2 .
Proposition 7.4. The distance variety V 4 , C 2 ⊂ C 6 V_{4,\mathbb{C}^2} \subset\mathbb{C}^6 V 4 , C 2 ⊂ C 6 contains no positive-dimensional weakly special subvarieties whose fixed coordinates are all real and positive.
Proof. Very elementary computations will be suppressed.
If V V V contains a positive dimensional weakly special subvariety T T T , then it contains the “diagonal” weakly special subvariety of T T T in which all non-constant variables are set to be equal, and which is also positive-dimensional. So it suffices to exclude such.
First we see that not all coordinates can be non-constant and equal. This follows from the computation in § 11 below.
So some distance is fixed. Without loss of generality it is d ( P 1 , P 2 ) d(P_1,P_2) d ( P 1 , P 2 ) where P 1 = ( 0 , 0 ) P_1=(0,0) P 1 = ( 0 , 0 ) and P 2 = ( x 2 , 0 ) P_2=(x_2,0) P 2 = ( x 2 , 0 ) is on the positive real axis. If all other distances are non-constant and are taken to be equal, then P 3 , P 4 P_3, P_4 P 3 , P 4 lie on the bisecting (complex) line L = { ( x 2 / 2 , y ) : y ∈ C } L=\{(x_2/2,y):y\in\mathbb{C}\} L = {( x 2 /2 , y ) : y ∈ C } . Taking a (complex) square-distance d 2 d^2 d 2 , if d ( P 3 , P 1 ) 2 = x 3 2 + y 3 2 = ( x 2 / 2 ) 2 + y 3 2 = d 2 d(P_3,P_1)^2=x_3^2+y_3^2=(x_2/2)^2+y_3^2=d^2 d ( P 3 , P 1 ) 2 = x 3 2 + y 3 2 = ( x 2 /2 ) 2 + y 3 2 = d 2 this gives two possible solutions for P 3 ∈ L P_3\in L P 3 ∈ L and so P 4 P_4 P 4 must be the other one. But d ( P 3 , P 4 ) 2 ≠ d 2 d(P_3,P_4)^2\ne d^2 d ( P 3 , P 4 ) 2 = d 2 for general d 2 d^2 d 2 .
So there must be another constant distance. Either it is a distance of P 3 P_3 P 3 or P 4 P_4 P 4 to P 1 P_1 P 1 or P 2 P_2 P 2 , and without loss of generality we can assume it is d ( P 3 , P 1 ) d(P_3,P_1) d ( P 3 , P 1 ) , or it is d ( P 3 , P 4 ) d(P_3,P_4) d ( P 3 , P 4 ) .
In this second case, if the non-constant distances are taken equal, P 3 , P 4 P_3,P_4 P 3 , P 4 lie on L L L (at squared distance d 2 d^2 d 2 to P 1 , P 2 P_1,P_2 P 1 , P 2 ) but are at some fixed distance to each other. This has only finitely many solutions for d 2 d^2 d 2 .
We consider the first case. Now P 3 P_3 P 3 is at fixed (complex) distance d 3 d_3 d 3 to P 1 P_1 P 1 , i.e. d 3 2 = x 3 2 + y 3 2 d_3^2=x_3^2+y_3^2 d 3 2 = x 3 2 + y 3 2 , and we consider P 4 P_4 P 4 at non-constant but equal distance to P 1 , P 2 , P 3 P_1,P_2,P_3 P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , so P 4 ∈ L P_4\in L P 4 ∈ L . Suppose the common “mobile” square-distance is d 2 d^2 d 2 . So P 4 = ( x 2 / 2 , y 4 ) P_4=(x_2/2,y_4) P 4 = ( x 2 /2 , y 4 ) with y 4 2 = d 2 − x 2 2 / 4 y_4^2=d^2-x_2^2/4 y 4 2 = d 2 − x 2 2 /4 . Then
d 2 = d 2 ( P 4 , P 3 ) = ( x 2 / 2 − x 3 ) 2 + ( y 4 − y 3 ) 2 d^2=d^2(P_4,P_3)=(x_2/2-x_3)^2+(y_4-y_3)^2 d 2 = d 2 ( P 4 , P 3 ) = ( x 2 /2 − x 3 ) 2 + ( y 4 − y 3 ) 2
and x 3 2 + y 3 2 = d 3 2 x_3^2+y_3^2=d_3^2 x 3 2 + y 3 2 = d 3 2 being fixed we find: the condition d ( P 3 , P 2 ) 2 = d 2 d(P_3,P_2)^2=d^2 d ( P 3 , P 2 ) 2 = d 2 now forces P 3 P_3 P 3 into a finite set.
So either d ( P 3 , P 2 ) d(P_3,P_2) d ( P 3 , P 2 ) is fixed, forcing P 4 P_4 P 4 (equidistant to all of them) into a finite set. Or we can assume d ( P 4 , P 1 ) d(P_4,P_1) d ( P 4 , P 1 ) is also fixed and consider the three remaining distances to be mobile but equal. But this is not possible. □
Transcendence conjectures and Fuglede’s conjecture
Schanuel’s conjecture and non-generic Bessel zeros
Transcendence properties of values of the exponential function are governed by Schanuel’s conjecture.
Schanuel’s conjecture
Schanuel’s conjecture. ([21 p30] ) Let y 1 , … , y m ∈ C y_1,\ldots,y_m\in\mathbb{C} y 1 , … , y m ∈ C . Then
td Q Q ( y 1 , … , y m , e y 1 , … , e y m ) ≥ m \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{Q}}\mathbb{Q}(y_1,\ldots,y_m,e^{y_1},\ldots,e^{y_m})\ge m td Q Q ( y 1 , … , y m , e y 1 , … , e y m ) ≥ m
unless y 1 , … , y m y_1,\ldots,y_m y 1 , … , y m are linearly dependent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q .
We show that, for odd m ≠ ± 1 m\ne\pm1 m = ± 1 , Schanuel’s conjecture implies that the positive roots of J m / 2 J_{m/2} J m /2 are algebraically independent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q , and that this would confirm Fuglede’s conjecture for sets of orthogonal exponentials in R m \mathbb{R}^m R m , for odd m ≥ 3 m\ge3 m ≥ 3 . (Independence fails for J ± 1 / 2 J_{\pm1/2} J ± 1/2 .)
Proposition. Assume Schanuel’s conjecture. Let m ≥ 1 m\ge1 m ≥ 1 be an integer. Then the positive roots of J m + 1 / 2 J_{m+1/2} J m + 1/2 are algebraically independent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q .
Proof. Let m ≥ 1 m \ge1 m ≥ 1 . If x x x is a root of J m + 1 / 2 ( x ) J_{m+1/2}(x) J m + 1/2 ( x ) then we have
− 1 = − R ( x ) e 2 i x -1=-R(x)e^{2ix} − 1 = − R ( x ) e 2 i x
where R R R is the rational function in the proof of Lemma 5.2 . We know that R R R is non-constant and satisfies R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 R(x)R(-x)=1 R ( x ) R ( − x ) = 1 . Put y = 2 i x y=2ix y = 2 i x and define S ( y ) = R ( y / 2 i ) S(y)=R(y/2i) S ( y ) = R ( y /2 i ) . Then y y y corresponding to roots satisfy S ( y ) = e y S(y)=e^y S ( y ) = e y and S ( y ) S ( − y ) = 1 S(y)S(-y)=1 S ( y ) S ( − y ) = 1 , and we must show algebraic independence of roots y i y_i y i up to y i = ± y j y_i=\pm y_j y i = ± y j .
Schanuel’s conjecture immediately implies that any non-zero root y i y_i y i is transcendental.
Now we suppose that any n n n non-zero roots y i y_i y i , i = 1 , … , n i=1,\ldots,n i = 1 , … , n with y i ≠ ± y j y_i\ne\pm y_j y i = ± y j for i ≠ j i\ne j i = j are algebraically independent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q and deduce the same for n + 1 n+1 n + 1 . Let y n + 1 y_{n+1} y n + 1 be a non-zero root. By Schanuel’s conjecture,
td ( y 1 , … , y n + 1 , e y 1 , … , e y n + 1 ) ≥ n + 1 \operatorname{td}\left(y_1,\ldots,y_{n+1},e^{y_1},\ldots,e^{y_{n+1}}\right)\ge n+1 td ( y 1 , … , y n + 1 , e y 1 , … , e y n + 1 ) ≥ n + 1
unless y 1 , … , y n + 1 y_1,\ldots,y_{n+1} y 1 , … , y n + 1 are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly dependent. Each e y i e^{y_i} e y i is algebraic over y i y_i y i , and so the above reduces to
td ( y 1 , … , y n + 1 ) ≥ n + 1 \operatorname{td}\left(y_1,\ldots,y_{n+1}\right)\ge n+1 td ( y 1 , … , y n + 1 ) ≥ n + 1
with the same possible exception. Such a Q \mathbb{Q} Q linear dependence must be of the form
y n + 1 = ∑ j = 1 n q j y j y_{n+1}=\sum_{j=1}^{n}q_jy_j y n + 1 = j = 1 ∑ n q j y j
for q j ∈ Q q_j\in\mathbb{Q} q j ∈ Q not all zero, as y 1 , … , y n y_1,\ldots,y_n y 1 , … , y n are algebraically independent by the inductive assumption. Write q j = ℓ j / d q_j=\ell_j/d q j = ℓ j / d for a positive integer d d d and integers ℓ j \ell_j ℓ j . Then
S ( ∑ j = 1 n q j y j ) d = S ( y n + 1 ) d = e d y n + 1 = ∏ j = 1 n e d q j y j = ∏ j = 1 n S ( y j ) ℓ j . S\left(\sum_{j=1}^{n}q_jy_j\right)^d=S(y_{n+1})^d=e^{d y_{n+1}}=\prod_{j=1}^{n}e^{d q_j y_j}=\prod_{j=1}^{n}S(y_j)^{\ell_j}. S ( j = 1 ∑ n q j y j ) d = S ( y n + 1 ) d = e d y n + 1 = j = 1 ∏ n e d q j y j = j = 1 ∏ n S ( y j ) ℓ j .
As the y j y_j y j are algebraically independent, considering the poles of the first and last displayed expressions, this is impossible if two or more q j q_j q j are non-zero. Suppose q j q_j q j only is non-zero. Then (removing the subscripts) we have
S ( q y ) d = S ( y ) ℓ S(qy)^d=S(y)^\ell S ( q y ) d = S ( y ) ℓ
which is impossible, considering degrees (as S S S is non-constant), unless ℓ = ± d \ell=\pm d ℓ = ± d , i.e. q = ± 1 q=\pm1 q = ± 1 , That is, unless y n + 1 = ± y j y_{n+1}=\pm y_j y n + 1 = ± y j . □
Concerning the algebraic independence of roots of general non-trivial polynomial-exponential equations and connections with Zilber’s existential closure conjecture see [23 , 24 ] .
Algebraic independence of zeros and Fuglede’s conjecture
Let m ≥ 1 m \ge1 m ≥ 1 and M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) / 2 M = (m+2)(m+1)/2 M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) /2 . A choice of m + 2 m+2 m + 2 points in R m \mathbb{R}^m R m gives rise to a tuple of distances
d ˉ = ( d i j ) = ( d ( P i , P j ) , i ≠ j ) ∈ R M . \bar{d}=(d_{ij})=(d(P_i,P_j),i\ne j)\in\mathbb{R}^{M}. d ˉ = ( d ij ) = ( d ( P i , P j ) , i = j ) ∈ R M .
Set ℓ = m + 2 \ell=m+2 ℓ = m + 2 . Whether a distance tuple d ˉ ∈ R M \bar{d}\in\mathbb{R}^{M} d ˉ ∈ R M is realized by some choice of points P 1 , … , P m + 2 ∈ R m P_1,\ldots,P_{m+2}\in\mathbb{R}^m P 1 , … , P m + 2 ∈ R m is governed (in part) by the vanishing of the Cayley-Menger determinant CM m ( d ˉ ) \operatorname{CM}_m(\bar{d}) CM m ( d ˉ ) exhibited above.
Proposition. Let m ≥ 1 m \ge1 m ≥ 1 and M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) / 2 M=(m+2)(m+1)/2 M = ( m + 2 ) ( m + 1 ) /2 . Suppose that x i , i = 1 , … , M x_i,i=1,\ldots,M x i , i = 1 , … , M are positive numbers that are algebraically independent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q . Then there do not exist m + 2 m+2 m + 2 distinct points in R m \mathbb{R}^m R m whose non-zero distances are among the x i x_i x i (allowing repetition).
Proof. Without allowing repetitions the conclusion is clear as P = CM m ( d ˉ ) P=\operatorname{CM}_m(\bar{d}) P = CM m ( d ˉ ) is a non-trivial polynomial relation defined over Q \mathbb{Q} Q . So we must consider what happens if some distances are repeated. For example if P = X − Y P=X-Y P = X − Y then P ( a , b ) ≠ 0 P(a,b)\ne0 P ( a , b ) = 0 for any algebraically independent a , b a,b a , b but P ( a , a ) = 0 P(a,a)=0 P ( a , a ) = 0 . So we must consider whether under some assignment of equal variables P P P reduces to the zero polynomial. If so, this will be true under the assignment of all equal variables. The conclusion follows from some computations set out below. □ \square □
We need to show that, for an indeterminate T T T , the ( ℓ + 1 ) × ( ℓ + 1 ) (\ell+1)\times(\ell+1) ( ℓ + 1 ) × ( ℓ + 1 ) determinant CM m ( T , … , T ) \operatorname{CM}_m(T,\ldots,T) CM m ( T , … , T ) , is a non-zero polynomial in Z [ T ] \mathbb{Z}[T] Z [ T ] , where CM m ( T ˉ ) = \operatorname{CM}_m(\bar{T})= CM m ( T ˉ ) =
det ( 0 T 2 T 2 ⋯ T 2 1 T 2 0 T 2 ⋯ T 2 1 T 2 T 2 0 ⋯ T 2 1 ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ ⋮ T 2 T 2 T 2 ⋯ 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 ) = det ( 0 T 2 T 2 ⋯ T 2 1 T 2 − T 2 0 ⋯ 0 0 T 2 0 − T 2 ⋯ 0 0 ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ ⋮ T 2 0 0 ⋯ − T 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 ) \det\begin{pmatrix}
0&T^2&T^2&\cdots&T^2&1\\
T^2&0&T^2&\cdots&T^2&1\\
T^2&T^2&0&\cdots&T^2&1\\
\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots&\vdots\\
T^2&T^2&T^2&\cdots&0&1\\
1&1&1&1&1&0
\end{pmatrix}
=
\det\begin{pmatrix}
0&T^2&T^2&\cdots&T^2&1\\
T^2&-T^2&0&\cdots&0&0\\
T^2&0&-T^2&\cdots&0&0\\
\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots&\vdots\\
T^2&0&0&\cdots&-T^2&0\\
1&1&1&1&1&0
\end{pmatrix} det 0 T 2 T 2 ⋮ T 2 1 T 2 0 T 2 ⋮ T 2 1 T 2 T 2 0 ⋮ T 2 1 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ 1 T 2 T 2 T 2 ⋮ 0 1 1 1 1 ⋮ 1 0 = det 0 T 2 T 2 ⋮ T 2 1 T 2 − T 2 0 ⋮ 0 1 T 2 0 − T 2 ⋮ 0 1 ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ 1 T 2 0 0 ⋮ − T 2 1 1 0 0 ⋮ 0 0
where the second expression is obtained by subtracting the first row from rows 2 2 2 to ℓ \ell ℓ in the first expression. We then expand down the last column to get the ℓ × ℓ \ell\times\ell ℓ × ℓ determinant
= ϵ det ( T 2 − T 2 ⋯ 0 T 2 0 ⋯ 0 ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ T 2 0 ⋯ − T 2 1 1 1 1 ) = ϵ det ( T 2 − 2 T 2 ⋯ − T 2 T 2 − T 2 ⋯ − T 2 ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ T 2 − T 2 ⋯ − 2 T 2 1 0 0 0 ) =\epsilon\det\begin{pmatrix}
T^2&-T^2&\cdots&0\\
T^2&0&\cdots&0\\
\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\
T^2&0&\cdots&-T^2\\
1&1&1&1
\end{pmatrix}
=\epsilon\det\begin{pmatrix}
T^2&-2T^2&\cdots&-T^2\\
T^2&-T^2&\cdots&-T^2\\
\vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\\
T^2&-T^2&\cdots&-2T^2\\
1&0&0&0
\end{pmatrix} = ϵ det T 2 T 2 ⋮ T 2 1 − T 2 0 ⋮ 0 1 ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ 1 0 0 ⋮ − T 2 1 = ϵ det T 2 T 2 ⋮ T 2 1 − 2 T 2 − T 2 ⋮ − T 2 0 ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ 0 − T 2 − T 2 ⋮ − 2 T 2 0
where ϵ = ( − 1 ) ℓ \epsilon= (-1)^{\ell} ϵ = ( − 1 ) ℓ and the second expression is obtained by subtracting the first column from all other columns. We then expand along the bottom row to get the now ( ℓ − 1 ) × ( ℓ − 1 ) (\ell- 1) \times(\ell- 1) ( ℓ − 1 ) × ( ℓ − 1 ) determinant
− det ( − 2 T 2 − T 2 ⋯ − T 2 − T 2 − 2 T 2 ⋯ − T 2 ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ − T 2 − T 2 ⋯ − 2 T 2 ) = ϵ T 2 ( ℓ − 1 ) det ( 2 1 ⋯ 1 1 2 ⋯ 1 ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ 1 1 ⋯ 2 ) = ( − 1 ) ℓ ℓ T 2 ( ℓ − 1 ) \begin{aligned}
-\det\begin{pmatrix}
-2T^2 & -T^2 & \cdots& -T^2 \\
-T^2 & -2T^2 & \cdots& -T^2 \\
\vdots& \vdots& \ddots& \vdots\\
-T^2 & -T^2 & \cdots& -2T^2
\end{pmatrix}
= \epsilon T^{2(\ell-1)}\det\begin{pmatrix}
2 & 1 & \cdots& 1 \\
1 & 2 & \cdots& 1 \\
\vdots& \vdots& \ddots& \vdots\\
1 & 1 & \cdots& 2
\end{pmatrix} \\
&= (-1)^{\ell}\ell T^{2(\ell-1)}
\end{aligned} − det − 2 T 2 − T 2 ⋮ − T 2 − T 2 − 2 T 2 ⋮ − T 2 ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ − T 2 − T 2 ⋮ − 2 T 2 = ϵ T 2 ( ℓ − 1 ) det 2 1 ⋮ 1 1 2 ⋮ 1 ⋯ ⋯ ⋱ ⋯ 1 1 ⋮ 2 = ( − 1 ) ℓ ℓ T 2 ( ℓ − 1 )
as the last displayed matrix has eigenvalues ℓ , 1 , … , 1 \ell,1,\ldots,1 ℓ , 1 , … , 1 .
For even m m m , hence integer m / 2 m/2 m /2 , we see that Fuglede’s conjecture follows if the positive zeros of J m J_m J m are algebraically independent over Q \mathbb{Q} Q , as he naturally expected should be the case.
A Bessel-Schanuel conjecture
There does not seem to be a Schanuel-type conjecture for the Bessel function stated in the literature. Motivated by our proof of Ax-Schanuel, we offer a formulation here.
In framing our conjecture, we have as “evidence” just our Bessel-Ax-Schanuel and the Siegel-Shidlovskii results [32 , 33 ] and [31 Ch. 9, §7] . These give the analogue of Lindemann-Weierstrass for suitably normalized Bessel functions of the first kind of generic rational non-integral order. For integral order, Y m Y_m Y m is not an E E E -function, and it seems that nothing is known about its transcendence at algebraic arguments.
In addition to the Lindemann-Weierstrass theorem, several other theorems and conjectures might have served as guidance to Schanuel in formulating his conjecture. These include the Gelfond-Schneider theorem and Gelfond’s theorem (independence of α β \alpha^{\beta} α β and α β 2 \alpha^{\beta^2} α β 2 for algebraic α ≠ 0 , 1 \alpha\ne0,1 α = 0 , 1 and algebraic β \beta β of degree 3), Schneider’s conjectured generalization [30 Problem 7] to α β i \alpha^{\beta_i} α β i for algebraic α ≠ 0 , 1 \alpha\ne0,1 α = 0 , 1 and Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly independent algebraic β i \beta_i β i , Gelfond’s announcement [16 ] and conjecture [30 5.12] (and see also [34 ] ), and the widely expected algebraic independence of logarithms of multiplicatively independent algebraic numbers (see e.g. Lang [21 p31] ).
Schanuel did not have the Ax-Schanuel theorem for the exponential function as a guide: indeed he conjectured it (see [3 ] ), though there were earlier partial results of Skolem and Chabauty (see again [3 ] ).
In addition to Bessel-Ax-Schanuel and Siegel-Shidlovskii, our formulation is in keeping with a conjecture of André [1 Conjecture 4.5.1] on the values of holonomic arithmetic Nilsson Gevrey series [1 3.3.1] .
For κ ∈ Q \kappa\in\mathbb{Q} κ ∈ Q , but not a negative integer, we have that
K κ ( x ) = Γ ( κ + 1 ) ( x 2 ) − κ J κ ( x ) K_{\kappa}(x)=\Gamma(\kappa+1)\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{-\kappa}J_{\kappa}(x) K κ ( x ) = Γ ( κ + 1 ) ( 2 x ) − κ J κ ( x )
is an E-function in the sense of (and as observed by) Siegel [32 ] . (For a negative integer κ ≤ − 1 \kappa\leq-1 κ ≤ − 1 the above is undefined, but easily modified.) We will therefore set, for non-integer rational κ \kappa κ , our normalized Bessel function of the first kind to be the multivalued function
J κ ∗ ( x ) = Γ ( κ + 1 ) J κ ( x ) . J_{\kappa}^{*}(x)=\Gamma(\kappa+1)J_{\kappa}(x). J κ ∗ ( x ) = Γ ( κ + 1 ) J κ ( x ) .
The rational power of x x x will not affect the transcendence statement, while J κ ∗ ( x ) J_{\kappa}^{*}(x) J κ ∗ ( x ) remains a solution of the Bessel d.e. of order κ \kappa κ .
For non-negative integer κ \kappa κ we set J κ ∗ = J κ J_{\kappa}^{*}=J_{\kappa} J κ ∗ = J κ .
Then for non-integral rational κ \kappa κ we have a normalized fundamental matrix W κ ∗ W_{\kappa}^{*} W κ ∗ formed using J κ ∗ J_{\kappa}^{*} J κ ∗ and Y κ ∗ = J − κ ∗ Y_{\kappa}^{*}=J_{-\kappa}^{*} Y κ ∗ = J − κ ∗ (or any linear combination of J κ ∗ J_{\kappa}^{*} J κ ∗ and J − κ ∗ J_{-\kappa}^{*} J − κ ∗ over Q \mathbb{Q} Q that is independent of J κ ∗ J_{\kappa}^{*} J κ ∗ ); with the given choice we have
Wr ( J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ ) = − 2 κ x . \operatorname{Wr}(J_{\kappa}^{*},Y_{\kappa}^{*})=-\frac{2\kappa}{x}. Wr ( J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ ) = − x 2 κ .
For integer order k k k , restricting to non-negative k k k for simplicity, we modify Y k Y_k Y k as follows. For k = 0 k=0 k = 0 we have [5 7.24, eqn. (33)]
π Y 0 ( x ) = 2 J 0 ( x ) ( log ( x / 2 ) + γ ) − 2 ∑ j = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) j j ! j ! ( x 2 ) 2 j H j \pi Y_0(x)=2J_0(x)\left(\log(x/2)+\gamma\right)-2\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^j}{j!j!}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{2j}H_j π Y 0 ( x ) = 2 J 0 ( x ) ( log ( x /2 ) + γ ) − 2 j = 0 ∑ ∞ j ! j ! ( − 1 ) j ( 2 x ) 2 j H j
where H j = 1 + 1 / 2 + … 1 / j H_j=1+1/2+\ldots1/j H j = 1 + 1/2 + … 1/ j is the harmonic number, H 0 = 0 H_0=0 H 0 = 0 , and γ \gamma γ is Euler’s constant. Accordingly define
Y 0 ∗ ( x ) = J 0 ( x ) log x + A 0 ( x ) , A 0 ( x ) = − ∑ j = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) j j ! j ! ( x 2 ) 2 j H j . Y_0^{*}(x)=J_0(x)\log x+A_0(x),\qquad A_0(x)=-\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^j}{j!j!}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{2j}H_j. Y 0 ∗ ( x ) = J 0 ( x ) log x + A 0 ( x ) , A 0 ( x ) = − j = 0 ∑ ∞ j ! j ! ( − 1 ) j ( 2 x ) 2 j H j .
We note that A 0 A_0 A 0 is an E-function, and so Y 0 Y_0 Y 0 is a holonomic arithmetic Nilsson Gevrey series as defined in [1 ] .
For other (positive) integer orders we proceed similarly. We have
π Y n ( x ) = 2 ( γ + log ( x / 2 ) ) J n ( x ) − ∑ m = 0 n − 1 ( n − m − 1 ) ! m ! ( x 2 ) 2 m − n − ∑ m = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) m ( H m + n + H m ) m ! ( n + m ) ! ( x 2 ) n + 2 m . \pi Y_n(x)=2\left(\gamma+\log(x/2)\right)J_n(x)-\sum_{m=0}^{n-1}\frac{(n-m-1)!}{m!}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{2m-n}-\sum_{m=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^m(H_{m+n}+H_m)}{m!(n+m)!}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)^{n+2m}. π Y n ( x ) = 2 ( γ + log ( x /2 ) ) J n ( x ) − m = 0 ∑ n − 1 m ! ( n − m − 1 )! ( 2 x ) 2 m − n − m = 0 ∑ ∞ m ! ( n + m )! ( − 1 ) m ( H m + n + H m ) ( 2 x ) n + 2 m .
(see e.g. [5 7.24, eqn. (32)] ). So we set
Y n ∗ ( x ) = ( π / 2 ) Y n ( x ) − ( γ − log 2 ) J n ( x ) . Y_n^{*}(x)=(\pi/2)Y_n(x)-(\gamma-\log2)J_n(x). Y n ∗ ( x ) = ( π /2 ) Y n ( x ) − ( γ − log 2 ) J n ( x ) .
which is (but for the Laurent polynomial) a holonomic arithmetic Nilsson Gevrey series. Then, for non-negative integer κ \kappa κ , we have
Wr ( J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ ) = 1 / x . \operatorname{Wr}(J_{\kappa}^{*},Y_{\kappa}^{*})=1/x. Wr ( J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ ) = 1/ x .
For a negative integer κ \kappa κ , the d.e. depending only on κ 2 \kappa^2 κ 2 , we will take
J κ ∗ = J κ = ( − 1 ) κ J − κ , Y κ ∗ = ( − 1 ) κ Y − κ . J_\kappa^* = J_\kappa= (-1)^\kappa J_{-\kappa}, \qquad Y_\kappa^* = (-1)^\kappa Y_{-\kappa}. J κ ∗ = J κ = ( − 1 ) κ J − κ , Y κ ∗ = ( − 1 ) κ Y − κ .
For κ ∈ Q \kappa\in\mathbb{Q} κ ∈ Q , let W κ ∗ W_\kappa^* W κ ∗ be the fundamental matrix formed using J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ J_\kappa^*,Y_\kappa^* J κ ∗ , Y κ ∗ . Since the Wronskian is an algebraic function of x x x over Q ‾ \overline{\mathbb{Q}} Q , the maximal possible transcendence degree of Q ( x , W κ ∗ ( x ) ) \mathbb{Q}(x,W_\kappa^*(x)) Q ( x , W κ ∗ ( x )) over Q ( x ) \mathbb{Q}(x) Q ( x ) is 3. Here and in the following, any determination of the value of a multivalued function is permitted.
Conjecture 8.4. Let κ ∈ Q \ ( Z + 1 / 2 ) \kappa\in\mathbb{Q}\backslash(\mathbb{Z}+1/2) κ ∈ Q \ ( Z + 1/2 ) . Let y 1 , … , y m ∈ C y_1,\ldots,y_m \in\mathbb{C} y 1 , … , y m ∈ C and x 1 , … , x n ∈ C × x_1,\ldots,x_n \in\mathbb{C}^{\times} x 1 , … , x n ∈ C × . Then
td Q ( y 1 , … , y m , e y 1 , … , e y m , x 1 , … , x n , W κ ∗ ( x 1 ) , … , W κ ∗ ( x n ) ) ≥ m + 3 n , \operatorname{td}_{\mathbb{Q}}\left(y_1,\ldots,y_m,e^{y_1},\ldots,e^{y_m},x_1,\ldots,x_n,W_\kappa^*(x_1),\ldots,W_\kappa^*(x_n)\right) \ge m+3n, td Q ( y 1 , … , y m , e y 1 , … , e y m , x 1 , … , x n , W κ ∗ ( x 1 ) , … , W κ ∗ ( x n ) ) ≥ m + 3 n , unless either
(A) y 1 , … , y m y_1,\ldots,y_m y 1 , … , y m are Q \mathbb{Q} Q -linearly dependent, or
(B) x i = ± x j x_i=\pm x_j x i = ± x j for some i ≠ j i\ne j i = j .
Note that, while we normalized to remove π \pi π from the expansion of the Y n Y_n Y n , as Conjecture 8.4 includes Schanuel’s Conjecture (the case n = 0 n=0 n = 0 ), algebraic independence of Bessel arguments and values over Q ( π ) \mathbb{Q}(\pi) Q ( π ) is implied. More generally, a transcendence degree of 3 n 3n 3 n for the Bessel arguments and values is implied (assuming x 1 , … , x n x_1,\ldots,x_n x 1 , … , x n are ± \pm ± distinct) over the (exponential) field E E E of “exponential algebraic numbers”; see [19 ] . For a related conjecture (with a related provenance) see [22 ] .
One can make a corresponding formulation involving normalized Bessel functions of several different generic rational orders κ 1 , … , κ ℓ \kappa_1,\ldots,\kappa_\ell κ 1 , … , κ ℓ , provided κ i ± κ j ∉ Z \kappa_i\pm\kappa_j\notin\mathbb{Z} κ i ± κ j ∈ / Z for i ≠ j i\ne j i = j . Evaluating at y j ∈ C , x i ∈ C × y_j\in\mathbb{C},x_i\in\mathbb{C}^{\times} y j ∈ C , x i ∈ C × as above, and with the same caveats, one expects transcendence degree at least m + 3 n ℓ m+3n\ell m + 3 n ℓ .
Dept. of Mathematics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
and (GB and JP)
School of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA
gal.binyamini@weizmann.ac.il
avner-ephraiem.kiro@weizmann.ac.il
gady.kozma@weizmann.ac.il
jonathan.pila@maths.ox.ac.uk