X^Y on the Elektronika B3-19M

[Harald]

The Elektronika B3-19M has a 3 level stack (x, y, z). It has an X^Y function that works as expected. The result is identical to pressing 'ln', '*', 'e^x'. What puzzles me is, that the later leves the z register intact an duplicates its contents into y (as expected), while the dedicated 'x^y' places ln10 in both z and y register. The manual says that z is lost, but I have no idea what ln10 might be used for in calculating x^y.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Harald