The logarithmic Mahler measure of an n-variable Laurent polynomial, P(x1,...,xn) is defined by [expression]. Using experimental methods, David Boyd conjectured a large number of explicit relations between Mahler measures of polynomials and special values of different types of L-series. This thesis contains four papers which either prove or attempt to prove conjectures due to Boyd. The introductory chapter contains an overview of the contents of each manuscript.

The logarithmic Mahler measure of an n-variable Laurent polynomial, P(x1,...,xn) is defined by [expression]. Using experimental methods, David Boyd conjectured a large number of explicit relations between Mahler measures of polynomials and special values of different types of L-series. This thesis contains four papers which either prove or attempt to prove conjectures due to Boyd. The introductory chapter contains an overview of the contents of each manuscript.

The logarithmic Mahler measure of an n-variable Laurent polynomial, P(x1,...,xn) is defined by [expression]. Using experimental methods, David Boyd conjectured a large number of explicit relations between Mahler measures of polynomials and special values of different types of L-series. This thesis contains four papers which either prove or attempt to prove conjectures due to Boyd. The introductory chapter contains an overview of the contents of each manuscript. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Mathematics / Chris Pinner and Todd Cochrane

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Mathematics / Christopher G. Pinner

We introduce decompositions determined by Galois field and degree of the space of algebraic numbers modulo torsion and the space of algebraic points on an elliptic curve over a number field. These decompositions are orthogonal with respect to the natural inner product associated to the L² Weil height recently introduced by Allcock and Vaaler in the case of algebraic numbers and the inner product naturally associated to the Néron-Tate canonical height on an elliptic curve. Using these decompositions, we then introduce vector space norms associated to the Mahler measure. For algebraic numbers, we formulate L[superscript p] Lehmer conjectures involving lower bounds on these norms and prove that these new conjectures are equivalent to their classical counterparts, specifically, the classical Lehmer conjecture in the p=1 case and the Schinzel-Zassenhaus conjecture in the p=[infinity] case. / text

In this thesis, we introduce and study several norms constructed to satisfy an extremal property with respect to the Mahler measure. These norms naturally generalize the metric Mahler measure introduced by Dubickas and Smyth. We show that bounding these norms on a certain subspace implies Lehmer's conjecture and in at least one case that the converse is true as well. We evaluate these norms on a class of algebraic numbers that include Pisot and Salem numbers, and for surds. We prove that the infimum in the construction is achieved in a certain finite dimensional space for all algebraic numbers in one case, and for surds in general, a finiteness result analogous to that of Samuels and Jankauskas for the t-metric Mahler measures. Next, we generalize Dirichlet's S-unit theorem from the usual group of S-units of a number field K to the infinite rank group of all algebraic numbers having nontrivial valuations only on places lying over S. Specifically, we demonstrate that the group of algebraic S-units modulo torsion is a Q-vector space which, when normed by the Weil height, spans a hyperplane determined by the product formula, and that the elements of this vector space which are linearly independent over Q retain their linear independence over R. / text

Le but principal de ce mémoire est de calculer la mesure de Mahler logarithmique d’une famille de polynômes à trois variables x^n + 1 + (x^(n−1) + 1)y + (x − 1)z. Pour réaliser cet objectif, on intègre des régulateurs définis sur des complexes motiviques polylogarithmiques. Pour comprendre ces régulateurs, on explore les propriétés des polylogarithmes et démontre quelques identités polylogarithmiques. Ensuite, on utilise les régulateurs afin de simplifier l’intégrante. Notre résultat est une formule qui relie la mesure de Mahler de la famille de polynômes susmentionnée au dilogarithme de Bloch–Wigner et à la fonction zêta de Riemann. / The main purpose of this thesis is to compute the logarithmic Mahler measure of the three variable polynomial family xn + 1 + (xn−1 + 1)y + (x − 1)z. In order to accomplish this, we integrate regulators defined on polylogarithmic motivic complexes. To understand these regulators, we explore the properties of polylogarithms and show some polylogarithmic identities. The regulators are then applied to simplify the integrand. Our result is a formula relating the Mahler measure of the family of polynomials to the Bloch–Wigner Dilogarithm and the Riemann zeta function.

Nous exprimons la mesure de Mahler 2-supérieure et 3-supérieure de certaines fonctions rationnelles en terme de valeurs spéciales de la fonction zêta, de fonctions L et de polylogarithmes multiples. Les résultats obtenus sont une généralisation de ceux obtenus dans [10] pour la mesure de Mahler classique. On améliore un de ces résultats en réduisant une combinaison linéaire de polylogarithmes multiples en termes de valeurs spéciales de fonctions L. On termine avec la réduction complète d’un cas particuler. / The 2-higher and 3-higher Mahler measure of some rational functions are given in terms of special values of the Riemann zeta function, a Dirichlet L-function and multiple polylogarithms. Our results generalize those obtained in [10] for the classical Mahler measure. We improve one of our results by providing a reduction for a certain linear combination of multiple polylogarithms in terms of Dirichlet L-functions. We conclude by giving a complete reduction of a special case.

Nous exprimons la mesure de Mahler 2-supérieure et 3-supérieure de certaines fonctions rationnelles en terme de valeurs spéciales de la fonction zêta, de fonctions L et de polylogarithmes multiples. Les résultats obtenus sont une généralisation de ceux obtenus dans [10] pour la mesure de Mahler classique. On améliore un de ces résultats en réduisant une combinaison linéaire de polylogarithmes multiples en termes de valeurs spéciales de fonctions L. On termine avec la réduction complète d’un cas particuler. / The 2-higher and 3-higher Mahler measure of some rational functions are given in terms of special values of the Riemann zeta function, a Dirichlet L-function and multiple polylogarithms. Our results generalize those obtained in [10] for the classical Mahler measure. We improve one of our results by providing a reduction for a certain linear combination of multiple polylogarithms in terms of Dirichlet L-functions. We conclude by giving a complete reduction of a special case.