On the transcendence of certain series (Q581611)

Let k be a field and let h be the power series \(\sum^{\infty}_{n=0}\left( \begin{matrix} 2n\\ n\end{matrix} \right)^ tx^ n \) with t an integer \(\geq 1\). h is said to be a function algebraic over K if h is algebraic over the field K(x). Else, h is said to be a function transcendental over K. In 1980, R. P. Stanley showed that h is a function transcendental over \({\mathbb{C}}\) for every integer \(t>1\). Here the authors generalize this result to a wide class of fields L of characteristic zero, no matter what the integer t is. The authors implicitly assume the indeterminate X to be transcendental over L as in a previous article (that is basically used and referred here) published in J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 37, No.3, 395-403 (1988; Zbl 0612.12018). This very nice result applies to fields such as \({\mathbb{C}}\) and \({\mathbb{C}}_ p\). The proof consists of showing that if h is algebraic of degree N over K(X) then for every prime p, the residue class \(\bar h\) (mod p) has degree at most N on the field \({\mathbb{Z}}/p{\mathbb{Z}}\) (here denoted by \({\mathbb{Z}}_ p).\) The authors also obtain a generalization of Lucas' theorem on relations on combinations mod p.