Transcendence and linear relations of $1$-periods

Abstract

We study four fundamental questions about $1$-periods and give complete answers. 1) We give a necessary and sufficient for a period integral to be transcendental. 2) We give a qualitative description of all $\overline{\mathbf{Q}}$-linear relations between $1$-periods, establishing Kontsevich's period conjecture in this case. 3) Periods may vanish and we determine all cases when this happens. 4) For a fixed $1$-motive, we derive a general formula for the dimension of its space of periods in the spirit of Baker's theorem.