A methodic approach to the transcendence and algebraic independence of values of analytic functions (Q1358802)

The aim of the author is to obtain general statements from which one can deduce all known results (and, of course, also new results!) of transcendence or algebraic independence of values of analytic functions. In the framework of interpolation determinants he gives two statements (theorem 1 and 2 of \S 2) which contain the transcendental part of the ``usual'' proofs of algebraic independence in the shape of the non-maximality of the rank of a matrix constructed with algebraic approximations of the values of the considered functions. To deduce results of algebraic independence, one chooses the numerous parameters of the statement adapted to the studied situation, and one uses, for example, a zero-estimate or general properties of approximation. The consideration of general properties of approximation is to be compared with the recent approach by Laurent, Roy and Waldschmidt [\textit{M. Laurent} and \textit{D. Roy}, Sur l'approximation algébrique en degré de transcendance un, to appear; \textit{D. Roy} and \textit{M. Waldschmidt}, Approximation diophantienne et indépendance algébrique de logarithmes, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 30, No. 6, 753--796 (1997; Zbl 0895.11030); \textit{D. Roy} and \textit{M. Waldschmidt}, Simultaneous approximation and algebraic independence, Ramanujan J. 1, No. 4, 379--430 (1997; Zbl 0916.11042)]. The author develops some examples: the result of \textit{Yu. V. Nesterenko} about the values of modular functions [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 322, 909--914 (1996; Zbl 0859.11047); Modular functions and transcendence questions, Sb. Math. 187, 1319--1348 (1996); translation from Mat. Sb. 187, No. 9, 65--96 (1996; Zbl 0898.11031)], a proof of the particular case of \(\pi\), \(e^\pi\) and \(\Gamma (1/4)\) without the use of the zero-estimate due to Nesterenko, and an application to the exponential function of a Drinfeld module. Notice that the tool ``Principe de Schwarz'' of \S 3 is used by the author in the paper [\textit{P. Philippon}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 497, 1--15 (1998; Zbl 0887.11032)]. Lastly, as pointed out to me by the author, p. 319, 1.5, one must read \(\text{dist} (x,Z)\) instead of \(\text{Dist} (x,Z)\).