Some consequences of Schanuel's conjecture (Q1019848): Difference between revisions

Schanuel's Conjecture states that for \(x_1,\dots,x_n\) \({\mathbb Q}\)--linearly independent complex numbers, the transcendence degree of the field \({\mathbb Q}(x_1,\dots,x_n, e^{x_1},\dots,e^{x_n})\) is at least \(n\). According to [\textit{S.~Lang}, Introduction to transcendental numbers. Reading, Mass. etc.: Addison-Wesley (1966; Zbl 0144.04101)] this conjecture implies the following statement. Define \(E_0={\mathbb Q}\), and, for \(n\geq 1\), let \(E_n\) be the algebraic closure of the field generated over \(E_{n-1}\) by the numbers \(e^x\) where \(x\) ranges over \(E_{n-1}\). Then the number \(\pi\) is not in the field \(E\) which is the union of \(E_n\) for \(n\geq 0\). The authors prove a much more general consequence of Schanuel's Conjecture. Define \(L_0={\mathbb Q}\), and, for \(n\geq 1\), let \(L_n\) be the algebraic closure of the field generated over \(L_{n-1}\) by the numbers \(y\), where \(y\) ranges over the set of complex numbers such that \(e^y\in L_{n-1}\). Let \(L\) be the field which is the union of \(L_n\) for \(n\geq 0\). Then Schanuel's Conjecture implies that the fields \(E\) and \(L\) are linearly disjoint. As a consequence, assuming again Schanuel's Conjecture, the numbers \(\pi,\log\pi,\log\log\pi,\dots\) are algebraically independent over \(E\), and the numbers \(e, e^e, e^{e^e},\dots\) are algebraically independent over \(L\).