On Mahler's classification of formal power series over a finite field (Q2076561)

\textit{K. Mahler} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 166, 137--150 (1932; JFM 58.0207.01)] introduced a classification of complex numbers. He divided complex numbers into four disjoint classes and called the numbers in these classes \(A\)-, \(S\)-, \(T\)- and \(U\)-numbers. Later he proposed a classification of \(p\)-adic numbers [Mathematica B, Zutphen 3, 177--185 (1935; Zbl 0011.05801)]. \par Let \(K\) be a finite field and denote by \(\mathbb K\) the set of formal power series over \(K\). \textit{P. Bundschuh} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 299/300, 411--432 (1978; Zbl 0367.10032)] introduced a classification in \(\mathbb K\) in analogy with Mahler's classifications.\par Recently \textit{K. Alniaçik} [Rev. Fac. Sci. Univ. Istanbul, Sér. A 44, 39--82 (1983; Zbl 0538.10031)] proved that under certain conditions rational and integral combinations with \(p\)-adic algebraic number coefficients of a \(p\)-adic \(U_1\)-number are \(p\)-adic \(U_m\)-numbers, where \(m\) is the degree of the \(p\)-adic algebraic number field, determined by these \(p\)-adic algebraic number coefficients.\par The author proves: Let \(\alpha_0,\ldots,\alpha_k\) (\(k \ge 1\)) be algebraic formal power series with \(\alpha_k\ne 0\) and let \(\xi\) be a \(U_1\)-number enjoying such a representation \[\xi=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}a_nx^{-u_n},\] where \(a_n\in K\setminus \{0\}\; (n=0,1,2,\ldots )\) and \(\{u_n\}_{n=0}^{\infty}\) is a strictly increasing sequence of non-negative rational integers with \[\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{u_{n+1}}{u_n}=\infty.\] Then \(\alpha_0+\alpha_1\xi+\ldots +\alpha_k\xi^k\) is a \(U_m\)-number, where \(m\) is the degree of \(K(x)(\alpha_0,\ldots,\alpha_k)\) over \(K(x)\).\par The proof depends on the method of \textit{M. H. Oryan} [Rev. Fac. Sci. Univ. Istanbul, Sér. A 45, 43--63 (1988; Zbl 0665.10023)].