Linear equations over multiplicative groups, recurrences, and mixing. II (Q475577)

Let \(u\) be a linear recurrence sequence from \(\mathbb N_0= \{0,1,2,\ldots\}\) to a field \(K\). When \(K\) is of zero characteristic then the set of \(k \in \mathbb N_0\) with \(u(k)=0\) is a union of finitely many singletons and infinite arithmetic progressions (this is the famous Skolem-Lech-Mahler theorem). But the situation is much more complicated when \(K\) is of positive characteristic \(p\) (see Theorems B1 and B2 of the present paper). Here the authors study in great detail the equation \[ u_1(k_1)+\cdots + u_m(k_m)=0, \] where \(u_1\), \dots, \(u_m\) are linear recurrence sequences with values in a field of positive characteristic \(p\). To describe such a set of \((k_1, \ldots, k_m)\) they introduce the notion of \(p\)-normality. In the case of characteristic zero, the authors verify a conjecture about non-decidability concerning the above equation, conjecture due to \textit{L. Cerlienco} et al. [Enseign. Math. (2) 33, 67--108 (1987; Zbl 0626.10008)]. For Part I see [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 104, No. 5, 1045--1083 (2012; Zbl 1269.11062)].