English

Exponential periods and o-minimality

Number Theory 2025-03-31 v4

Abstract

Let αC\alpha \in \mathbb{C} be an exponential period. We show that the real and imaginary part of α\alpha are up to signs volumes of sets definable in the o-minimal structure generated by Q\mathbb{Q}, the real exponential function and sin[0,1]{\sin}|_{[0,1]}. This is a weaker analogue of the precise characterisation of ordinary periods as numbers whose real and imaginary part are up to signs volumes of Q\mathbb{Q}-semi-algebraic sets. Furthermore, we define a notion of naive exponential periods and compare it to the existing notions using cohomological methods. This points to a relation between the theory of periods and o-minimal structures.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2007.08280,
  title  = {Exponential periods and o-minimality},
  author = {Johan Commelin and Philipp Habegger and Annette Huber},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.08280},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

72 pages. To appear in Annales de l'Institut Fourier. The paper is a merger of "Exponential periods and o-minimality I" (v1 of this submission) and "Exponential periods and o-minimality II", previously arXiv:2007.08290

R2 v1 2026-06-23T17:09:57.031Z