Transcendence theory over function fields (Q1063640)

Let \(\mathcal C\) be a smooth projective algebraic geometrically connected curve over the field \(\mathbb F_q\). Let \(\infty\) be a fixed rational point on \(\mathcal C\) and let \(\mathbb A\) be the ring of functions on \(\mathcal C\) holomorphic away from \(\infty\). Let \(k\) be the quotient field of \(\mathbb A\), \(K=k_{\infty}\) the completion of \(k\) with respect to the \(\infty\)-adic topology and \(K^{\text{ac}}\) the algebraic closure of \(K\). A lattice \(M\) contained in \(K^{\text{ac}}\) is by definition a finitely generated \(\mathbb A\)-submodule which is discrete in the \(\infty\)-adic topology. Associated to \(M\) one has an exponential function and an algebraic object called a Drinfeld module. Conversely, a Drinfeld module (over \(K^{\text{ac}}\)) is associated to a lattice in \(K^{\text{ac}}\) -- this is all in very close analogy to the classical situation of \(\mathbb Z\)-lattices in \(\mathbb C\). When the Drinfeld module has algebraic (over \(k\)) coefficients one can make the natural conjectures about the rationality of the elements of the associated lattice. In other papers the author has proved these conjectures. The paper being reviewed is concerned with preliminary results (e.g., an analog of Siegel's lemma). However, the author does establish here an elegant analog of the classical result of Gelfond-Schneider on Hilbert's 7th problem.