On Pisot's \(d\)-th root conjecture for function fields and related GCD estimates (Q2239163)

In the article under review, the authors are motivated by Zannier's proof of Pisot's \(d\)th root conjecture, for linear recurrence sequences defined over number fields \textit{U.~Zannier} [Ann. Math. (2) 151, No.~1, 375--383 (2000; Zbl 0995.11007)]. Their main result establishes a function field analogue of Zannier's result. Specifically, in the present article, the authors consider the case of exponential polynomials \[b(n) = \sum_{i=1}^\ell B_i(n) \beta_i^n\text{,}\] where \(B_i \in K[T]\) and \(\beta_i \in K^*\text{,}\) for \(K = k(C)\) the function field of a smooth projective algebraic curve \(C\), defined over an algebraically closed characteristic zero field \(k\). To formulate the main result, let \(L\) be the smallest finite extension field of \(K\) that has the property that the roots \(\beta_1,\dots,\beta_\ell\) and the leading coefficient of the polynomial \(\sum_{i=1}^\ell B_i(T)\) all have \(d\)th roots in \(L\). Further, assume that the multiplicative subgroup of \(K^*\) that is generated by the roots \(\beta_1,\dots,\beta_\ell\) has trivial intersection with \(k^*\). Finally, assume that \(b(n)\) is a \(d\)th power in \(K\) for infinitely many natural numbers \(n\). Within this context, the authors establish existence of an exponential polynomial \[ a(m) = \sum_{i=1}^r A_i(m) \alpha_i^m \text{,} \] where \(A_i \in L[T]\) and \(\alpha_i \in \overline{L}^* \text{,}\) together with a polynomial \(R[T] \in k[T]\) for which \[b(m) = R(m) a(m)^d\text{,}\] for all natural numbers \(m\). The proof of this result is of an independent interest. The idea is to establish function field analogues for the generalized greatest common divisor results of \textit{A.~Levin} [Invent. Math. 215, No. 2, 493--533 (2019; Zbl 1437.11094)] and \textit{A.~Levin} and \textit{J.~T.~-Y. Wang} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 767, 77--107 (2020; Zbl 1454.14070)]. Another point involves an application of the main theorem for one variable function fields from \textit{H.~Pasten} and \textit{J.~T.~-Y. Wang} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2015, No. 11, 3263-3297 (2015; Zbl 1375.11078)].