Irrationality of \(\zeta _{q}(1)\) and \(\zeta _{q}(2)\) (Q996277)

The article under review considerably extends the method of the second author from [\textit{W.~Van Assche}, Ramanujan J. 5, No.~3, 295--310 (2001; Zbl 1035.11032)] to use classical \(q\)-orthogonal polynomials in constructing rational approximations for certain \(q\)-series and proving arithmetic results for the values of the series. The main result of the present article is the linear independence over~\(\mathbb Q\) of the numbers \[ 1, \quad \zeta_q(1)=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{q^n}{1-q^n} \quad\text{and}\quad \zeta_q(2)=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{nq^n}{1-q^n} \] for \(q=1/p\), where \(p\in\{2,3,\dots\}\). This result is also obtained in the recent papers [\textit{P.~Bundschuh} and \textit{K.~Väänänen}, Result. Math. 47, No.~1-2, 33--44 (2005; Zbl 1128.11035); \textit{W.~Zudilin}, Zap. Nauchn. Semin. POMI 322, 107--124 (2005; Zbl 1088.11052)] but by different methods, although the constructed approximations are the same.