Regular extensions and algebraic relations between values of Mahler functions in positive characteristic

Abstract

Let $\mathbb{K}$ be a function field of characteristic $p>0$. We recently established the analogue of a theorem of Ku. Nishioka for linear Mahler systems defined over $\mathbb{K}(z)$. This paper is dedicated to proving the following refinement of this theorem. Let $f_1(z),\dots f_n(z)$ be $d$-Mahler functions such that $\overline{\mathbb{K}}(z)\left(f_1(z),\dots ,f_n(z)\right)$ is a regular extension over $\overline{\mathbb{K}}(z)$. Then, every homogeneous algebraic relation over $\overline{\mathbb{K}}$ between their values at a regular algebraic point arises as the specialization of a homogeneous algebraic relation over $\overline{\mathbb{K}}(z)$ between these functions themselves. If $\mathbb{K}$ is replaced by a number field, this result is due to B. Adamczewski and C. Faverjon, as a consequence of a theorem of P. Philippon. The main difference is that in characteristic zero, every $d$-Mahler extension is regular, whereas, in characteristic $p$, non-regular $d$-Mahler extensions do exist. Furthermore, we prove that the regularity of the field extension $\overline{\mathbb{K}}(z)\left(f_1(z),\dots ,f_n(z)\right)$ is also necessary for our refinement to hold. Besides, we show that, when $p\nmid d$, $d$-Mahler extensions over $\overline{\mathbb{K}}(z)$ are always regular. Finally, we describe some consequences of our main result concerning the transcendence of values of $d$-Mahler functions at algebraic points.