Lehmer's problem and splitting of rational primes in number fields (Q6097388)

Let \(\alpha\) be a nonzero algebraic integer of degree \(d\), which is not a root of unity. Put \(K={\mathbb{Q}}(\alpha)\). Let \({\mathcal{O}}_K\) be the ring of integers of \(K\). The authors prove that if \(2 {\mathcal{O}}_K\) factors as \({\mathcal{P}}_1^{e_1} \dots {\mathcal{P}}_g^{e_g}\), where \(e_1+\dots+e_g=d\), then we have the following lower bound for the Mahler measure: \(M(\alpha) \geq 2^{1/4}\). Similar bounds are obtained for the Mahler measure of \(\alpha\) when \(p{\mathcal{O}}_K\) is a product of \(d\) distinct prime ideals of the ring \({\mathcal{O}}_K\). In particular, \(M(\alpha) \geq p/2\) if this happens for some rational prime \(p \leq d+1\). Some other results of this type are also obtained.