Quartic Salem numbers which are Mahler measures of non-reciprocal 2-Pisot numbers (Q2219659): Difference between revisions

The author proves that the Mahler measure of an algebraic integer \(\theta\) with exactly two conjugates over \(\mathbb Q\) lying in \(|z|>1\) is a Salem number if and only if \(\theta\) is a nonreciprocal totally imaginary quartic unit and one of the following four conditions holds: (i) \(\deg M(\theta) \in \{4,6\}\), (ii) \(\overline{\theta} \notin{\mathbb Q}(\theta)\), (iii) \({\mathbb Q}(\theta)\) is not normal, (iv) the Galois group \(\mathrm{Gal}({\mathbb Q}(\theta)/{\mathbb Q})\) is \(S_4, A_4\) or \(D_4\). This gives some further examples showing that the Mahler measure of a nonreciprocal algebraic number can be reciprocal. First such examples were discovered by \textit{D. W. Boyd} [Can. Math. Bull. 30, No. 1--3, 3--8 (1987; Zbl 0585.12001)]. Then, other examples were discovered, for instance, by the reviewer [Acta Arith. 176, No. 1, 81--88 (2016; Zbl 1356.11075)] and the author [Acta Arith. 194, No. 4, 383--392 (2020; Zbl 1450.11111)].