Transcendence of the modular invariant in finite characteristic (Q1297965)

The conjecture of Mahler-Manin (if \(J\) is the Fourier development at infinity of the modular invariant \(j\) and if \(q\neq 0\) is in the unit disc of \(\mathbb{C}\) or \(\mathbb{C}_p\), then \(q\) and \(J(q)\) are not simultaneously algebraic) was proved in 1995 by \textit{K. Barré-Sirieix} et al. [Invent. Math. 124, 1-9 (1996; Zbl 0853.11059)]. Here the authors prove the analogue for Drinfeld modules. The proofs are parallel, but ``some'' work is necessary to construct and use the tools in the case of finite characteristic. The result is: Let \(J\) be the Fourier expansion at infinity of the modular invariant associated to a Drinfeld module of rank 2 defined on the algebraic closure \(k\) of \(\mathbb{F}_q(T)\). If \(t\) is (small enough) in the completion of \(k\), then at least one of the numbers \(t\) and \(J(t)\) is transcendental over \(\mathbb{F}_q(T)\).