Metrical irrationality results related to values of the Riemann $\zeta$-function

Abstract

We introduce a one-parameter family of series associated to the Riemann $\zeta$-function and prove that the values of the elements of this family at integers are linearly independent over the rationals for almost all values of the parameter, where almost all is with respect to any sufficiently nice measure. We also give similar results for the Euler--Mascheroni constant, for $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^n}$ and for $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n! +1}$. Finally, specialising the criteria used, we give some new criteria for the irrationality of $\zeta(k)$, the Euler--Mascheroni constant and the latter two series.