Number Theory Seminar: The parametrized family of metric Mahler measures
- Date: 01/21/2010
Lecturer(s):
Charles Samuels (PIMS/SFU/UBC)
Location:
University of British Columbia
Description:
Let $M(\alpha)$ denote the Mahler measure of the algebraic
number $\alpha$. Dubickas and Smyth constructed a modified version
$M_1$ of $M$ having the triangle inequality. $M_1$ is called the metric
Mahler measure. We produce an entire parametrized family $\{M_t\}$ of
metric Mahler measures which gives rise to a new reformulation of
Lehmer's problem. We further examine the functions $t\mapsto
M_t(\alpha)$, for fixed $\alpha$, showing that they are constructed
piecewise from certain simpler functions.
Schedule: