Linear relations with conjugates of a Salem number

Abstract

In this paper we consider linear relations with conjugates of a Salem number $\alpha$. We show that every such a relation arises from a linear relation between conjugates of the corresponding totally real algebraic integer $\alpha+1/\alpha$. It is also shown that the smallest degree of a Salem number with a nontrivial relation between its conjugates is $8$, whereas the smallest length of a nontrivial linear relation between the conjugates of a Salem number is $6$.