On the number of NN-free elements with prescribed trace

In this paper we derive a formula for the number of $N$-free elements over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ with prescribed trace, in particular trace zero, in terms of Gaussian periods. As a consequence, we derive a simple explicit formula for the number of primitive elements, in quartic extensions of Mersenne prime fields, having absolute trace zero. We also give a simple formula in the case when $Q = (q^m-1)/(q-1)$ is prime. More generally, for a positive integer $N$ whose prime factors divide $Q$ and satisfy the so called semi-primitive condition, we give an explicit formula for the number of $N$-free elements with arbitrary trace. In addition we show that if all the prime factors of $q-1$ divide $m$, then the number of primitive elements in $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}$, with prescribed non-zero trace, is uniformly distributed. Finally we explore the related number, $P_{q, m, N}(c)$, of elements in $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}$ with multiplicative order $N$ and having trace $c \in \mathbb{F}_q$. Let $N \mid q^m-1$ such that $L_Q \mid N$, where $L_Q$ is the largest factor of $q^m-1$ with the same radical as that of $Q$. We show there exists an element in $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}^*$ of (large) order $N$ with trace $0$ if and only if $m \neq 2$ and $(q,m) \neq (4,3)$. Moreover we derive an explicit formula for the number of elements in $\mathbb{F}_{p^4}$ with the corresponding large order $L_Q = 2(p+1)(p^2+1)$ and having absolute trace zero, where $p$ is a Mersenne prime

Primitive normal pairs of elements with one prescribed trace

Let $q, n, m \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $q$ is a prime power, $m \geq 3$ and $a \in \mathbb{F}$. We establish a sufficient condition for the existence of a primitive normal pair ($\alpha$, $f(\alpha)$) in $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}$ over $\mathbb{F}_{q}$ such that Tr$_{\mathbb{F}_{q^m}/\mathbb{F}_{q}}(\alpha^{-1})=a$, where $f(x) \in \mathbb{F}_{q^m}(x)$ is a rational function with degree sum $n$. In particular, for $q=5^k, ~k \geq 5$ and degree sum $n=4$, we explicitly find at most 11 choices of $(q, m)$ where existence of such pairs is not guaranteed.Comment: 19 page

Primitive elements in finite fields with arbitrary trace

Arithmetic of finite fields is not only important for other branches of mathematics but also widely used in applications such as coding and cryptography. A primitive element of a finite field is of particular interest since it enables one to represent all other elements of the field. Therefore an extensive research has been done on primitive elements, especially those satisfying extra conditions. We are interested in the existence of primitive elements in extensions of finite fields with prescribed trace value. This existence problem can be settled by means of two important theories. One is character sums and the other is the theory of algebraic function fields. The aim of this thesis is to introduce some important properties of these two topics and to show how they are used in answering the existence problem mentioned above

Primitive polynomials with prescribed second coefficient

The Hansen-Mullen Primitivity Conjecture (HMPC) (1992) asserts that, with some (mostly obvious) exceptions, there exists a primitive polynomial of degree n over any finite fieldwith any coefficient arbitrarily prescribed. This has recently been provedwhenever n ≥ 9. It is also known to be truewhen n ≤ 3.We showthat there exists a primitive polynomial of any degree n ≥ 4 over any finite field with its second coefficient (i.e., that of xn−2) arbitrarily prescribed. In particular, this establishes the HMPC when n = 4. The lone exception is the absence of a primitive polynomial of the form x4 + a1x3 + x2 + a3x + 1 over the binary field. For n ≥ 6 we prove a stronger result, namely that the primitive polynomialmay also have its constant termprescribed. This implies further cases of the HMPC. When the field has even cardinality 2-adic analysis is required for the proofs

Primitive free cubics with specified norm and trace

The existence of a primitive free (normal) cubic x3 - ax2 + cx - b over a finite field F with arbitrary specified values of a (≠0) and b (primitive) is guaranteed. This is the most delicate case of a general existence theorem whose proof is thereby completed