Algebraic independence of the values of certain series and their derivatives involving the Hecke-Mahler series (Q2291707)

Let \(\omega\) be a positive quadratic irrational. The two Hecke-Mahler series are \(h_\omega(z) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty [k\omega]z^k\) and \(g_\omega(z) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty z^{[k\omega]}\) for \(|z|<1\), where \([x]\) denotes the integral part of a real number \(x\). Mahler studied the transcendence properties of \(h_\omega\) via the function \(H_\omega(z_1,z_2) = \sum_{k_1=0}^\infty \sum_{k_2=1}^{[k_1\omega]} z_1^{k_1}z_2^{k_2}\) which specialises to \(h_\omega\) when \(z_2=1\). Also set \(G_\omega(z_1,z_2) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty z_1^{[k\omega]}z_2^k\). Now \(H_\omega(z_1,z_2)+H_{1/\omega}(z_2,z_1)=z_1z_2/(1-z_1)(1-z_2)\) and, for any positive integer \(n\), \(H_{a+\omega}(z_1,z_2)=H_\omega(z_1z_2^a,z_2)+z_1z_2/(1-z_1)(1-z_2)-z_1z_2^{a+1}/(1-z_2)(1-z_1z_2^a)\). Since the continued fraction of \(\omega\) is eventually periodic, iterating these operations as in the continued fraction algorithm generates a finite set of functional equations and it follows that \(H_\omega(z_1,z_2)\) satisfies a Mahler functional equation. Algebraic independence results for the values of the function \(H_\omega(z_1,z_2)\) and its derivatives can be obtained from a general criterion of \textit{K. Nishioka} [Tohoku Math. J. (2) 48, No. 1, 51--70 (1996; Zbl 0852.11036)]. The author shows that the numbers \(\partial^{l+l'}H_\omega/\partial z_1^l\partial z_2^{l'}(\alpha,1)\) for \(l,l'\ge 0, \alpha\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}, 0<|\alpha|<1\) are algebraically independent and so are the numbers \(\partial^{l+l'}G_\omega/\partial z_1^l\partial z_2^{l'}(\alpha,1)\). As a consequence, the numbers \(h_\omega^{(l)}(\alpha)\) for \(l\ge 0, \alpha\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}, 0<|\alpha|<1\) are algebraically independent and so are the numbers \(g_\omega^{(l)}(\alpha)\). These results extend the work of \textit{D. W. Masser} [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 50, No. 198, 207--230 (1999; Zbl 0929.11021)] which showed the algebraic independence of the numbers \(h_\omega(\alpha)\) for \(\alpha\in\overline{\mathbb{Q}}, 0<|\alpha|<1\). The results are proved by Mahler's method, first using the tools developed by Masser to reduce the algebraic independence of the value of the Hecke-Mahler series to the linear independence of the functions, and then proving the algebraic independence of the functions.