CM points, class numbers, and the Mahler measures of $x^3+y^3+1-kxy$

Abstract

We study the Mahler measures of the polynomial family $Q_k(x,y) = x^3+y^3+1-kxy$ using the method previously developed by the authors. An algorithm is implemented to search for CM points with class numbers $\leqslant 3$, we employ these points to derive interesting formulas that link the Mahler measures of $Q_k(x,y)$ to $L$-values of modular forms. As by-products, some conjectural identities of Samart are confirmed, one of them involves the modified Mahler measure $\tilde{n}(k)$ introduced by Samart recently. For $k=\sqrt[3]{729\pm405\sqrt{3}}$, we also prove an equality that expresses a $2\times 2$ determinant with entries the Mahler measures of $Q_k(x,y)$ as some multiple of the $L$-value of two isogenous elliptic curves over $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{3})$.