Computing the $p$-adic gamma function $\Gamma_p$

Let $$p>2$$ be a prime. For $$n \in \mathbb{Z}^+$$ we can define $$$$F(n) = (-1)^n \prod_{1 Since $$\mathbb{Z}$$ is dense in $$\mathbb{Z}_p$$, we can extend $$F$$ uniquely to a continuous function on $$\mathbb{Z}_p$$, which is the $$p$$-adic gamma function $$\Gamma_p$$.

Is there any good way to explicitly compute $$\Gamma_p(a/b)$$ where $$a,b \in \mathbb{Z}$$ such that $$a/b \in \mathbb{Z}_p^{\times}$$? Specifically, I'm looking at $$\Gamma_5(4/11)$$.

A bad idea is to evaluate $$F(a_n)$$, where $$a_n$$ are the partial sums of the $$5$$-adic expansion of $$4/11$$. I don't think this would work since $$F(a_n)$$ becomes too difficult to compute the further you go in the expansion.

I'm aware that some values can be computed via the Gross-Koblitz formula, but I don't know how or if I can apply it to my situation.

Any help is appreciated!

Edit: As Henri Cohen points out, you can get Sage to do this:

[Input] Sage: R=Zp(5)
Sage: x = R(4/11)
Sage: x.gamma('pari')
[Output]      1 + 3*5 + 4*5^3 + 4*5^4 + 4*5^6 + 3*5^7 + 2*5^8 + 4*5^9
+ 4*5^10 + 5^11 + 4*5^13 + 5^15 + 5^16 + 3*5^17 + 2*5^18
+ 5^19 + O(5^20)

• How accurately do you want to know $\Gamma_5(4/11)$? – KConrad Feb 6 at 5:09
• My goal is to figure out the multiplicative order of $\Gamma_5(4/11)$ modulo $5$, so I suppose I only need to know it within the first $p$-adic digit??? – matt stokes Feb 6 at 5:18
• Yes: $|\Gamma_5(x)-\Gamma_5(y)|_5 \leq |x-y|_5$ for all $x$ and $y$ in $\mathbf Z_5$. Thus $\Gamma_5(4/11) \equiv \Gamma_5(4) \bmod 5$. – KConrad Feb 6 at 5:53
• @KConrad Ah, I feel silly. I should have made it clear what I was trying to do in my question. Thank you for your help! (p.s. your expository papers helped me pass my comprehensive exam). – matt stokes Feb 6 at 6:03

The $$p$$-adic gamma function is implemented in Pari/GP (hence available in Sage). The algorithm used is due to Fernando Rodriguez-Villegas (but probably predates him) and is explained in detail both in his book on experimental mathematics published at Oxford, and in my Springer GTM 240.
• Thanks for pointing this out! I wanted to use Sage to calculate this but couldn't find the command. Wasn't looking hard enough. After reading your post I found what I was looking for. Sage is telling me $\Gamma_5(4/11) = 1 + 3\cdot5 + 4\cdot5^3 + 4\cdot5^4 + 4\cdot5^6 + 3\cdot5^7 + 2\cdot5^8 + 4\cdot5^9 + 4\cdot5^{10} + 5^{11} + 4\cdot5^{13} + 5^{15} + 5^{16} + 3\cdot5^{17} + 2\cdot5^{18} + 5^{19} + O(5^{20})$. – matt stokes Feb 6 at 15:04