Algebraic Dynamics and Transcendental Numbers.pdfVIP

Algebraic Dynamics and Transcendental Numbers Michel Waldschmidt1 Institut de Mathe´matiques de Jussieu, Universite´ P. et M. Curie, The´orie des Nombres, Case 247, 4, Place Jussieu, F-75252 PARIS Cedex 05 France Abstract. A first example of a connection between transcendental numbers and complex dynamics is the following. Let p and q be polynomials with complex co- efficients of the same degree. A classical result of Bo¨ttcher states that p and q are locally conjugates in a neighborhood of ∞: there exists a function f , conformal in a neighborhood of infinity, such that f (p (z)) = q(f (z)). Under suitable assumptions, f is a transcendental function which takes transcendental values at algebraic points. A consequence is that the conformal map (Douady-Hubbard) from the exterior of the Mandelbrot set onto the exterior of the unit disk takes transcendental values at algebraic points. The underlying transcendence method deals with the values of solutions of certain functional equations. A quite different interplay between diophantine approximation and algebraic dynamics arises from the interpretation of the height of algebraic numbers in terms of the entropy of algebraic dynamical systems. Finally we say a few words on the work of J.H. Silverman on diophantine ge- ometry and canonical heights including arithmetic properties of the He´non map. 1 Transcendental Values of Bo¨ttcher Functions For any complex number c ∈ C, define the polynomial pc ∈ C[z] by pc (z) = z2 + c. For n ≥ 1, let pn be the n-th iterate of pc : c p 1(z) = pc (z) = z2 + c, p2 (z) = pc (z2 + c) = (z2 + c)2 + c, c c pn (z) = pn−1(z2 + c) (n ≥ 2). c c The Mandelbrot set M can be defined as M = c ∈ C | pn (0) does not tend to ∞ as n → ∞}. c In 1982