Multiplicative relations in number fields

Abstract

In this paper, we obtain an explicit form of the currently best known inequality for linear forms in the logarithms of algebraic numbers. The results complete our previous investigations (Bull. Austral. Math. Soc. 15 (1976), 33–57) which were conditional on a certain independence condition on the algebraic numbers. The extra work needed to obtain unconditional results centres on the properties of multiplicative relations in number fields. In particular, we show that a set of multiplicatively dependent algebraic numbers always satisfies a relation with relatively small exponents.