A Hypergeometric Approach, Via Linear Forms Involving Logarithms, to Irrationality Criteria for Euler's Constant

Jonathan Sondow, Sergey Zlobin

Published 2002-11-05, updated 2009-04-29Version 4

Using an integral of a hypergeometric function, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for irrationality of Euler's constant $\gamma$. The proof is by reduction to known irrationality criteria for $\gamma$ involving a Beukers-type double integral. We show that the hypergeometric and double integrals are equal by evaluating them. To do this, we introduce a construction of linear forms in 1, $\gamma$, and logarithms from Nesterenko-type series of rational functions. In the Appendix, Sergey Zlobin gives a change-of-variables proof that the series and the double integral are equal.