Arithmetic progressions in sumsets of geometric progressions

Abstract

If $a$ and $b$ are integers with $b>a>1$, we completely characterize ``long'' arithmetic progressions in the sumsets of the geometric progressions $1, a, a^2, a^3, \ldots$ and $1, b, b^2, b^3, \ldots$. Our proofs utilize recent applications of bounds for linear forms in logarithms to $S$-unit equations, and consequences of the modularity of Frey-Hellegouarch curves, together with elementary arguments.