Algebraic independence of arithmetic gamma values and Carlitz zeta values (Q846977)

Let \(\mathbb F_q\) be a finite field of characteristic \(p\), \(\theta\) a variable, \(A=\mathbb F_q[\theta]\), \(k=\mathbb F_q(\theta)\), \(k_\infty=\mathbb F_q((1/\theta))\), \(C_\infty\) the completion of an algebraic closure of \(k_\infty\). Carlitz zeta values are defined, for \(s\in\mathbb N\), by \[ \zeta_C(s)=\sum_a a^{-s}\in k_\infty, \] where \(a\) runs over the monic polynomials in \(A\). All algebraic relations among these values have been determined by \textit{C.-Yu Chang} and \textit{J. Yu} [Adv. Math. 216, No. 1, 321--345 (2007; Zbl 1123.11025)]. The Carlitz factorial of a nonnegative integer \(n=n_0+n_1q+n_2q^2+\cdots+n_sq^s\), where \(0\leq n_i<q\), is \[ \prod_{i=0}^s D_i^{n_i}\in A, \] where \[ D_i=\prod_{j=0}^{i-1} (\theta^{q^i}-\theta^{q^j}). \] The value, at \(n=n_0+n_1q+n_2q^2+\cdots \in\mathbb Z_p\), of the arithmetic Goss gamma function, is \[ n!=\prod_{i\geq 0} \overline{D_i}^{n_i}\in k_\infty, \] where \[ \overline{D_i}=D_i \theta^{-\deg D_i}. \] Arithmetic Gamma values are the \(n!\) for \(n\in\mathbb Z_p\cap\mathbb Q\). The main result of the paper under review describes all algebraic dependence relations among zeta values and arithmetic Gamma values. This result asserts that the Euler-Carlitz relations, the Frobenius \(p\)-th power relations and the standard relations among the arithmetic Gamma values generate the ideal of all \(\overline{k}\) algebraic relations among these values. The main tool from the theory of algebraic independence is taken from \textit{M. A. Papanikolas} [Invent. Math. 171, No. 1, 123--174 (2008; Zbl 1235.11074)] which is a function field version of Grothendieck's conjecture on the periods of abelian varieties.