The Gel'fond-Fridman theorem in positive characteristic (Q1758931)

Let \(p\) be a prime number, and \(q:=p^f\) with integer \(f>0\). Let \(\mathbb{F}_q((1/T))\) be the completion of the field \(\mathbb{F}_q(T)\) for the infinite \((1/T)\)-adic valuation denoted by \(v_\infty\) and normalized by \(v_\infty(1/T)=1\). Let \(\mathcal{C}\) be the completion of an algebraic closure of \(\mathbb{F}_q((1/T))\); the valuation \(v_\infty\) extends to a valuation on \(\mathcal{C}\) and, for all \(z\in\mathcal{C}\), one defines \(\deg(z):=-v_\infty(z)\). An entire function \(f\) over \(\mathcal{C}\) is given by an element from \(\mathcal{C}[[z]]\) converging for all \(z\in\mathcal{C}\). The growth modulus for such \(f\)'s is defined by \(M(f,r):=\sup_{\deg(z)\leq r}\{\deg(f(z))\}\) for any \(r\in\mathbb{R}_+\). With these notations, the main result of the paper under review reads as follows: If \(f\) is an entire function over \(\mathcal{C}\) such that (1):\! \(\limsup_{r\to\infty}M(f,r)q^{-r}\!<p/(e\log q)\), and (2):\! \(f^{(\sigma)}(\mathbb{F}_q[T])\subset\mathbb{F}_q[T] \; (\sigma=0,\ldots,p-1)\) hold, then \(f\) is a polynomial. Moreover, the upper bound in (1) is best possible. This theorem has to be viewed as \(\mathcal{C}\)-analog of an old result of \textit{A. Gelfond} [Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei, Rend., VI. Ser. 10, 569--574 (1929; JFM 55.0778.01)]. Since \(f^{(\sigma)}=0\) for any integer \(\sigma\geq p\), it is also an analog of the main theorem of \textit{G. A. Fridman} [Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 75(117), 417--431 (1968; Zbl 0179.10801)]. Furthermore, the quoted result generalizes the author's [Acta Arith. 115, No. 3, 287--303 (2004; Zbl 1088.11087)] \(\mathcal{C}\)-analog of Pólya's famous theorem from 1915. Finally note that further results along the same lines include the multiplicative \(\mathcal{C}\)-analog of the Gel'fond-Fridman theorem.