Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

In recent years the field of real numbers expanded by a multiplicative subgroup has been studied extensively. In this thesis, the known results will be extended to expansions of the real field. I will consider the structure R consisting of the field of real numbers and an irrational power function. Using Schanuel conditions, I will give a first-order axiomatization of expansions of R by a dense multiplicative subgroup which is a subset of the real algebraic numbers. It will be shown that every definable set in such a structure is a boolean combination of existentially definable sets and that these structures have o-minimal open core. A proof will be given that the Schanuel conditions used in proving these statements hold for co-countably many real numbers. The results mentioned above will also be established for expansions of R by dense multiplicative subgroups which are closed under all power functions definable in R. In this case the results hold under the assumption that the Conjecture on intersection with tori is true. Finally, the structure consisting of R and the discrete multiplicative subgroup 2^{Z} will be analyzed. It will be shown that this structure is not model complete. Further I develop a connection between the theory of Diophantine approximation and this structure.

In the first part of this thesis, we present the first non-trivial small value estimate that applies to an algebraic group of dimension 2 and which involves large sets of points. The algebraic group that we consider is the product ℂ× ℂ*, of the additive group ℂ by the multiplicative group ℂ*. Our main result assumes the existence of a sequence (PD)D ≥1 of non-zero polynomials in ℤ [X1, X2] taking small absolute values at many translates of a fixed point (ξ, η) in ℂ × ℂ* by consecutive multiples of a rational point (r, s) ∈ (ℚ*)2 with s = ±1. Under precise conditions on the size of the coefficients of the polynomials PD, the number of translates of (ξ, η) and the absolute values of the polynomials PD at these points, we conclude that both ξ and η are algebraic over ℚ. We also show that the conditions that we impose are close from being best possible upon comparing them with what can be achieved through an application of Dirichlet’s box principle. In the second part of the thesis, we consider points of the form θ = (1,θ1 , . . . ,θd-1 ,ξ) where {1,θ1 , . . . ,θd-1 } is a basis of a real number field K of degree d ≥ 2 over ℚ and where ξ is a real number not in K. Our main results provide sharp upper bounds for the uniform exponent of approximation to θ by rational points, denoted λ ̂(θ), and for its dual uniform exponent of approximation, denoted τ ̂(θ). For d = 2, these estimates are best possible thanks to recent work of Roy. We do not know if they are best possible for other values of d. However, in Chapter 2, we provide additional information about rational approximations to such a point θ assuming that its exponent λ ̂(θ) achieves our upper bound. In the course of the proofs, we introduce new constructions which are interesting by themselves and should be useful for future research.

L'étude de la distribution des points rationnels sur les variétés algébriques est un sujet classique de la géométrie diophantienne. Le programme proposé par V. Batyrev et Y. Manin dans des années 90 donne une prédiction sur l'ordre de croissance tandis que sa version ultérieure dûe à E. Peyre conjecture l'existence d'une distribution globale. Dans cette thèse nous nous proposons une étude de la distribution locale des points rationnels de hauteur bornée sur les variétés algébriques. Ceci envisage une description plus fine que celle globale en dénombrant les points le plus proche d'un point fixé. Nous nous plaçons sur le cadre récent du travail de D. McKinnon et M. Roth qui met en évidence que la géométrie de la variété gouverne l'approximation diophantienne sur elle et nous reprenons les résultats de S. Pagelot. L'ordre de croissance espéré et l'existence d'une mesure asymptotique sur certaines surfaces toriques sont démontrés, alors que démontrons-nous un résultat totalement différent pour une autre surface sur laquelle il n'y pas de mesure asymptotique et les meilleurs approximants génériques s'obtiennent sur des courbes rationnelles nodales. Ces deux phénomènes sont de nature radicalement différente au point de vu de l'approximation diophantienne. / The study of the distribution of rational points on algebraic varieties is a classic subject of Diophantine geometry. The program proposed by V. Batyrev and Y. Manin in the 1990s gives a prediction on the order of growth whereas its later version due to E. Peyre conjectures the existence of a global distribution. In this thesis we propose a study of the local distribution of rational points of bounded height on algebraic manifolds. This aims at giving a description finer than the global one by counting the points closest to a fixed point. We set ourselves on the recent framework of the work of D. McKinnon and M. Roth who prefers that the geometry of the variety governs the Diophantine approximation on it and we take up the results of S. Pagelot. The expected order of growth and the existence of an asymptotic measure on some toric surfaces are demonstrated, while we demonstrate a totally different result for another surface on which there is no asymptotic measure and the best generic approximates are obtained on nodal rational curves. These two phenomena are of a radically different nature from the point of view of the Diophantine approximation.

In the first part of this thesis, we present the first non-trivial small value estimate that applies to an algebraic group of dimension 2 and which involves large sets of points. The algebraic group that we consider is the product ℂ× ℂ*, of the additive group ℂ by the multiplicative group ℂ*. Our main result assumes the existence of a sequence (PD)D ≥1 of non-zero polynomials in ℤ [X1, X2] taking small absolute values at many translates of a fixed point (ξ, η) in ℂ × ℂ* by consecutive multiples of a rational point (r, s) ∈ (ℚ*)2 with s = ±1. Under precise conditions on the size of the coefficients of the polynomials PD, the number of translates of (ξ, η) and the absolute values of the polynomials PD at these points, we conclude that both ξ and η are algebraic over ℚ. We also show that the conditions that we impose are close from being best possible upon comparing them with what can be achieved through an application of Dirichlet’s box principle. In the second part of the thesis, we consider points of the form θ = (1,θ1 , . . . ,θd-1 ,ξ) where {1,θ1 , . . . ,θd-1 } is a basis of a real number field K of degree d ≥ 2 over ℚ and where ξ is a real number not in K. Our main results provide sharp upper bounds for the uniform exponent of approximation to θ by rational points, denoted λ ̂(θ), and for its dual uniform exponent of approximation, denoted τ ̂(θ). For d = 2, these estimates are best possible thanks to recent work of Roy. We do not know if they are best possible for other values of d. However, in Chapter 2, we provide additional information about rational approximations to such a point θ assuming that its exponent λ ̂(θ) achieves our upper bound. In the course of the proofs, we introduce new constructions which are interesting by themselves and should be useful for future research.

: La théorie géométrique des invariants constitue un domaine central de la géométrie algébrique d'aujourd'hui : développée par Mumford au début des années soixante, elle a conduit à des progrès considérables dans l'étude des variétés projectives, notamment par la construction d'espaces de modules. Dans les vingt dernières années des interactions entre la théorie géométrique des invariants et la géométrie arithmétique -- plus précisément la théorie des hauteurs et la géométrie d'Arakelov -- ont été étudiés par divers auteurs (Burnol, Bost, Zhang, Soulé, Gasbarri, Chen). Dans cette thèse nous nous proposons d'un côté d'étudier de manière systématique la théorie géométrique des invariants dans le cadre de la géométrique d'Arakelov ; de l'autre de montrer que ces résultats permettent une nouvelle approche géométrique (distincte aussi de la méthode des pentes développée par Bost) aux résultats d'approximation diophantienne, tels que le Théorème de Roth et ses généralisations par Lang, Wirsing et Vojta. / Geometric invariant theory is a central subject in nowadays' algebraic geometry : developed by Mumford in the early sixties, it enhanced the knowledge of projective varieties through the construction of moduli spaces. During the last twenty years, interactions between geometric invariant theory and arithmetic geometric --- more precisely, height theory and Arakelov geometry --- have been exploited by several authors (Burnol, Bost, Zhang, Soulé, Gasbarri, Chen). In this thesis we firstly study in a systematic way how geometric invariant theory fits in the framework of Arakelov geometry; then we show that these results give a new geometric approach to questions in diophantine approximation, proving Roth's Theorem and its recent generalizations by Lang, Wirsing and Vojta.

Neste trabalho estudamos o célebre Teorema de Klaus F. Roth para aproximações diofantinas, também conhecido como Teorema de Thue-Siegel-Roth. Nossos objetivos consistem em fazer um estudo abrangente da evolução do problema, que se iniciou com um resultado de Liouville em 1844, e chegar à completa compreensão das ideias e das técnicas utilizadas na demonstração do Teorema de Roth. / In this work we study the celebrated Klaus F. Roth\'s Theorem in Diophantine approximations, also known as the Thue-Siegel-Roth Theorem. Our goals are to make a comprehensive study of the evolution of the problem that started with a result of Liouville in 1844 and achieve full understanding of ideas and techniques used in the proof of the Roth\'s Theorem.

Neste trabalho estudamos o célebre Teorema de Klaus F. Roth para aproximações diofantinas, também conhecido como Teorema de Thue-Siegel-Roth. Nossos objetivos consistem em fazer um estudo abrangente da evolução do problema, que se iniciou com um resultado de Liouville em 1844, e chegar à completa compreensão das ideias e das técnicas utilizadas na demonstração do Teorema de Roth. / In this work we study the celebrated Klaus F. Roth\'s Theorem in Diophantine approximations, also known as the Thue-Siegel-Roth Theorem. Our goals are to make a comprehensive study of the evolution of the problem that started with a result of Liouville in 1844 and achieve full understanding of ideas and techniques used in the proof of the Roth\'s Theorem.

For a dynamical system on a metric space a shrinking-target set consists of those points whose orbit hit a given ball of shrinking radius infinitely often. Historically such sets originate in Diophantine approximation, in which case they describe the set of well-approximable numbers. One aspect of such sets that is often studied is their Hausdorff dimension. We will show that an analogue of Bowen's dimension formula holds for such sets when they are generated by conformal non-autonomous iterated function systems satisfying some natural assumptions.

Cette thèse se situe à l'interface de trois grands domaines : la combinatoire des mots, la théorie des automates et la théorie des nombres. Plus précisément, nous montrons comment des outils provenant de la combinatoire des mots et de la théorie des automates interviennent dans l'étude de problèmes arithmétiques concernant les séries formelles à coefficients dans un corps fini.Le point de départ de cette thèse est un célèbre théorème de Christol qui caractérise les séries de Laurent algébriques sur le corps F_q(T), l'entier q désignant une puissance d'un nombre premier p, en termes d'automates finis et dont l'énoncé est : « Une série de Laurent à coefficients dans le corps fini F_q est algébrique si et seulement si la suite de ses coefficients est engendrée par un p-automate fini ». Ce résultat, qui révèle dans un certain sens la simplicité de ces séries de Laurent, a donné naissance à des travaux importants parmi lesquels de nombreuses applications et généralisations.L'objet principal de cette thèse est, dans un premier temps, d'exploiter la simplicité de séries de Laurent algébriques à coefficients dans un corps fini afin d'obtenir des résultats diophantiens, puis d'essayer d'étendre cette étude à des fonctions transcendantes arithmétiquement intéressantes. Nous nous concentrons tout d'abord sur une classe de séries de Laurent algébriques particulières qui généralisent la fameuse cubique de Baum et Sweet. Le résultat principal obtenu pour ces dernières est une description explicite de leur développement en fraction continue, généralisant ainsi certains travaux de Mills et Robbins. Rappelons que le développement en fraction continue permet généralement d'obtenir des informations très précises sur l'approximation rationnelle ; les meilleures approximations étant obtenues directement à partir de la suite des quotients partiels. Malheureusement, il est souvent très difficile d'obtenir le développement en fraction continue d'une série de Laurent algébrique, que celle-ci soit donné par une équation algébrique ou par son développement en série de Laurent. La deuxième étude que nous présentons dans cette thèse fournit une information diophantienne à priori moins précise que la description du développement en fraction continue, mais qui a le mérite de concerner toutes les séries de Laurent algébriques (à coefficients dans un corps fini). L'idée principale est d'utiliser l'automaticité de la suite des coefficients de ces séries de Laurent afin d'obtenir une borne générale pour leur exposant d'irrationalité. Malgré la généralité de ce résultat, la borne obtenue n'est pas toujours satisfaisante. Dans certains cas, elle peut s'avérer plus mauvaise que celle provenant de l'inégalité de Mahler. Cependant, dans de nombreuses situations, il est possible d'utiliser notre approche pour fournir, au mieux, la valeur exacte de l'exposant d'irrationalité, sinon des encadrements très précis de ce dernier.Dans un dernier travail nous nous plaçons dans un cadre plus général que celui des séries de Laurent algébriques, à savoir celui des séries de Laurent dont la suite des coefficients a une « basse complexité ». Nous montrons que cet ensemble englobe quelques fonctions remarquables, comme les séries algébriques et l'inverse de l'analogue du nombre \pi dans le module de Carlitz. Il possède, par ailleurs, des propriétés de stabilité intéressantes : entre autres, il s'agit d'un espace vectoriel sur le corps des fractions rationnelles à coefficients dans un corps fini (ce qui, d'un point de vue arithmétique, fournit un critère d'indépendance linéaire), il est de plus laissé invariant par diverses opérations classiques comme le produit de Hadamard / This thesis looks at the interplay of three important domains: combinatorics on words, theory of finite-state automata and number theory. More precisely, we show how tools coming from combinatorics on words and theory of finite-state automata intervene in the study of arithmetical problems concerning the Laurent series with coefficients in a finite field.The starting point of this thesis is a famous theorem of Christol which characterizes algebraic Laurent series over the field F_q(T), q being a power of the prime number p, in terms of finite-state automata and whose statement is the following : “A Laurent series with coefficients in a finite field F_q is algebraic over F_q(T) if and only if the sequence of its coefficients is p-automatic”.This result, which reveals, somehow, the simplicity of these Laurent series, has given rise to important works including numerous applications and generalizations. The theory of finite-state automata and the combinatorics on words naturally occur in number theory and, sometimes, prove themselves to be indispensable in establishing certain important results in this domain.The main purpose of this thesis is, foremost, to exploit the simplicity of the algebraic Laurent series with coefficients in a finite field in order to obtain some Diophantine results, then to try to extend this study to some interesting transcendental functions. First, we focus on a particular set of algebraic Laurent series that generalize the famous cubic introduced by Baum and Sweet. The main result we obtain concerning these Laurent series gives the explicit description of its continued fraction expansion, generalizing therefore some articles of Mills and Robbins.Unfortunately, it is often very difficult to find the continued fraction representation of a Laurent series, whether it is given by an algebraic equation or by its Laurent series expansion. The second study that we present in this thesis provides a Diophantine information which, although a priori less complete than the continued fraction expansion, has the advantage to characterize any algebraic Laurent series. The main idea is to use some the automaticity of the sequence of coefficients of these Laurent series in order to obtain a general bound for their irrationality exponent. In the last part of this thesis we focus on a more general class of Laurent series, namely the one of Laurent series of “low” complexity. We prove that this set includes some interesting functions, as for example the algebraic series or the inverse of the analogue of the real number \pi. We also show that this set satisfy some nice closure properties : in particular, it is a vector space over the field over F_q(T).