Rational values of transcendental functions and arithmetic dynamics (Q2124237)

This paper is concerned with counting algebraic points on graphs of certain transcendental functions. Specifically, let \(f\) be an analytic function on the unit disc, let \(\phi=1/(1-|z|)\), and let \(S\) be a subset of the disc containing the open interval \((0,1)\). Moreover, assume that \(f\) decays exponentially with respect to \(\phi\) on \(S\). There are positive constants \(a,b\) with \(b>1\) such that \[ |f(z)|\leq ab^{-\phi(z)}\;\;\;\text{for all \(z\in S\).} \] Then, subject to the conditions above, the authors give an effective bound on the number of algebraic points \(\alpha\in S\cap\overline{\mathbb{Q}}\) of bounded height and of bounded degree whose value \(f(\alpha)\) is similarly algebraic, of bounded height, and of bounded degree. Specifically, they show that the number of such points is \(O(d^9(\log d)^2(\log H)^9)\), where \(d\) and \(H\) are bounds for the relevant degrees and heights respectively. To do this, the authors build on several prior techniques, including one of \textit{D. Masser} [J. Number Theory 131, No. 11, 2037--2046 (2011; Zbl 1267.11091)] for constructing integral polynomials vanishing on the algebraic points of certain curves. In addition, these methods lead to several interesting applications in arithmetic dynamics. For example, combining the count above with Böttcher coordinates and some \(p\)-adic techniques of \textit{P. Ingram} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 45, No. 2, 301--308 (2013; Zbl 1280.37058)] and \textit{L. De Marco} et al. [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2019, No. 8, 2453--2482 (2019; Zbl 1431.37076)], the authors give an explicit bound on the number of irreducible factors of polynomials of the form \(P^{\circ n}(X)-P^{\circ n}(\alpha)\), where \(P\) and \(\alpha\) are both defined over a given number field. Specifically, they show that the number of such irreducible factors is \(O(\deg(P)^{3n/4+\epsilon n})\) for all positive \(\epsilon\).