The theorem of Büchi-Bruyère states that a subset of $N^d$ is $b$-recognizable if and only if it is $b$-definable. As a corollary, the first-order theory of $(N,+,V_b)$ is decidable (where $V_b(n)$ is the largest power of the base $b$ dividing $n$). This classical result is a powerful tool in order to show that many properties of $b$-automatic sequences are decidable. The first part of my lecture will be devoted to presenting this result and its applications to $b$-automatic sequences. Then I will move to $b$-regular sequences, which can be viewed as a generalization of $b$-automatic sequences to integer-valued sequences. I will explain bow first-order logic can be used to show that many enumeration problems of $b$-automatic sequences give rise to corresponding $b$-regular sequences. Finally, I will consider more general frameworks than integer bases and (try to) give a state of the art of the research in this domain.[-]

It is well known that the every letter $\alpha$ of an automatic sequence $a(n)$ has a logarithmic density -- and it can be decided when this logarithmic density is actually adensity. For example, the letters $0$ and $1$ of the Thue-Morse sequences $t(n)$ have both frequences $1/2$. The purpose of this talk is to present a corresponding result for subsequences of general automatic sequences along primes and squares. This is a far reaching of two breakthroughresults of Mauduit and Rivat from 2009 and 2010, where they solved two conjectures by Gelfond on the densities of $0$ and $1$ of $t(p_n)$ and $t(n^2)$ (where $p_n$ denotes thesequence of primes). More technically, one has to develop a method to transfer density results for primitive automatic sequences to logarithmic-density results for general automatic sequences. Then asan application one can deduce that the logarithmic densities of any automatic sequence along squares $(n^2){n\geq 0}$ and primes $(p_n)_{n\geq 1}$ exist and are computable. Furthermore, if densities exist then they are (usually) rational. [-]

Automatic sequences and their number theoretic properties have been intensively studied during the last 20 or 30 years. Since automatic sequences are quite regular (they just have linear subword complexity) they are definitely no "quasi-random" sequences. However, the situation changes drastically when one uses proper subsequences, for example the subsequence along primes or squares. It is conjectured that the resulting sequences are normal sequences which could be already proved for the Thue-Morse sequence along the subsequence of squares.
This kind of research is very challenging and was mainly motivated by the Gelfond problems for the sum-of-digits function. In particular during the last few years there was a spectacular progress due to the Fourier analytic method by Mauduit and Rivat. In this talk we survey some of these recent developments. In particular we present a new result on subsequences along primes of so-called invertible automatic sequences.[-]

Any algebraic (resp. linear) relation over the field of rational functions with algebraic coefficients between given analytic functions leads by specialization to algebraic (resp. linear) relations over the field of algebraic numbers between the values of these functions. Number theorists have long been interested in proving results going in the other direction. Though the converse result is known to be false in general, Mahler's method provides one of the few known instances where it essentially holds true. After the works of Nishioka, and more recently of Philippon, Faverjon and the speaker, the theory of Mahler functions in one variable is now rather well understood. In contrast, and despite the contributions of Mahler, Loxton and van der Poorten, Kubota, Masser, and Nishioka among others, the theory of Mahler functions in several variables remains much less developed. In this talk, I will discuss recent progresses concerning the case of regular singular systems, as well as possible applications of this theory. This is a joint work with Colin Faverjon.[-]