An Analog of the Lindemann-Weierstrass Theorem for the Weierstrass p-Function

Abstract

This thesis aims to prove the following statement, where the Weierstrass p-function has algebraic invariants and complex multiplication by Q(alpha): "If beta_1,..., beta_n are algebraic numbers which are linearly independent over Q(alpha), then p(beta_1),...,p(beta_n) are algebraically independent over Q." This was proven by Philippon in 1983, and the proof in this thesis follows his ideas. The difference lies in the strength of the tools used, allowing certain arguments to be simplified. This thesis shows that the above result is equivalent to imposing the restriction (beta_1,...,beta_n)=(1,beta,...,beta^{n-1}), where n=[Q(alpha,beta):Q(alpha)]. The core of the proof consists of developing height estimates, constructing representations for morphisms between products of elliptic curves, and finding height and degree estimates on large families of polynomials which are small at a point in Q(alpha,beta,g_2,g_3)(p(1),p'(1),...,p(beta^{n-1}),p'(beta^{n-1})). An application of Philippon's zero estimate (1986) and his criterion of algebraic independence (1984) is then used to obtain the main result.