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Recycled roots under reduction and descent in the Casas-Alvero problem

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  • Anthropic Claude Opus
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Abstract

For a Casas-Alvero polynomial ff, the type of ff is one less than the minimal number of roots of ff needed to meet every Hasse derivative H1f,…,Hd−1fH_1f,\dots,H_{d-1}f. We show that the type does not increase under reduction modulo a prime and under the descent from degree npenp^e to degree nn in characteristic pp. Consequently, if no Casas-Alvero polynomial of degree nn and type at most kk exists over F‾p\overline{\mathbb F}_p, then none of degree npenp^e and type at most kk exists in characteristic 00, for every e≥0e\ge 0. For k=2k=2 the hypothesis is equivalent to p∤Nnp\nmid N_n for an explicit integer NnN_n, and we show by a finite computation that Nn≠0N_n\ne0 for 3≤n≤223\le n\le 22 and n=24n=24. In particular there is no counterexample of type at most 22 in degree 2424. This gives infinite families of degrees for which the conjecture is not known and every counterexample has type at least 33: the degrees 5⋅8009e5\cdot 8009^e, the degrees 6pe6p^e for 2121 primes pp that are bad for degree 66, the degrees 7pe7p^e, 8pe8p^e, 9pe9p^e and 10pe10p^e for 1313, 1717, 1616 and 103103 explicit primes pp that are bad for these degrees, and the degrees 20pe20p^e and 24pe24p^e for all primes pp outside a finite set (for 20pe20p^e, including p=231−1p=2^{31}-1). For k=3k=3 we obtain the first degrees in which every counterexample has type at least 44: the degrees 6pe6p^e for p∈{983,1901,51313000813080529}p\in\{983,1901,51313000813080529\}, the degrees 8⋅397e8\cdot397^e, the degrees 9pe9p^e for p∈{613,757}p\in\{613,757\} and the degrees 10pe10p^e for 1313 primes pp.

Introduction

Let KK be a field and f∈K[x]f\in K[x] monic of degree d≥2d\geq2. Write HifH_i f for the ii-th Hasse derivative, so that f(x+t)=∑i≥0(Hif)(x)tif(x+t)=\sum_{i\geq0}(H_i f)(x)t^i. Following [2], we call ff a CA-polynomial if gcd⁡(f,Hif)≠1\gcd(f,H_i f)\neq1 for 1≤i≤d−11\leq i\leq d-1 and ff is not of the form (x−α)d(x-\alpha)^d over K‾\overline{K}. The Casas-Alvero conjecture asserts that there are no CA-polynomials in characteristic 0. It is known in degrees pkp^k and 2pk2p^k [1], in degrees 3pk3p^k, 4pk4p^k for most pp [4], in degrees 5pk5p^k, 6pk6p^k, 7pk7p^k for pp outside the finite sets of bad primes B(5),B(6),B(7)B(5),B(6),B(7) [3, 2], where B(n)B(n) is the set of primes pp such that a CA-polynomial of degree nn exists over Fp\mathbb{F}_p, and in degree 12 [2]. The smallest open degree is 20. A proof of the conjecture in all degrees has been announced in [5]; in this note a degree is called open when it is not covered by the results listed above, and nothing below depends on [5].

Definition 1.1. A recycling set of a CA-polynomial ff is a set RR of roots of ff in K‾\overline{K} such that for every 1≤i≤d−11\leq i\leq d-1 some θ∈R\theta\in R satisfies Hif(θ)=0H_i f(\theta)=0. The type of ff is type⁡(f)=min⁡∣R∣−1\operatorname{type}(f)=\min|R|-1 [2 §1.2].

If R={θ}R=\{\theta\} then Hif(θ)=0H_i f(\theta)=0 for 0≤i≤d−10\leq i\leq d-1 and f=(x−θ)df=(x-\theta)^d; hence type⁡(f)≥1\operatorname{type}(f)\geq1 always. In characteristic 0 one has type⁡(f)≥2\operatorname{type}(f)\geq2 [2 §2.2]; the type-one values are identified with MacMahon’s descent numbers in [6]. Counterexamples of type 2 were excluded in degree 12 [2] and in degree 20 [7 Thm. 7.10] (see Remark 4.4).

Our main tool is the following transfer statement.

Theorem 1.2. Let pp be a prime, e≥0e\geq0, n≥2n\geq2, d=nped=np^e and k≥1k\geq1. If there is no CA-polynomial of degree nn and type at most kk over Fp\mathbb{F}_p, then there is no CA-polynomial of degree dd and type at most kk over any field of characteristic 0.

For k=2k = 2 we make the hypothesis effective (Proposition 4.2) and verify it (Proposition 4.3).

Theorem 1.3. Let 3≤n≤223 \le n \le22 or n=24n = 24. There is an explicit nonzero integer NnN_n such that for every prime p∤Nnp \nmid N_n and every e≥0e \ge0, every CA-polynomial of degree npenp^e in characteristic 00 has type at least 33. For n≤20n \le20 moreover 231−1∤Nn2^{31} - 1 \nmid N_n. In particular, every CA-polynomial of degree 2424 in characteristic 00 has type at least 33.

Remark 1.4. For n≤19n \le19 the conjecture holds in degree nn, so B(n)B(n) is finite [1] and the conjecture itself holds in degree npenp^e for every p∉B(n)p \notin B(n). The sets B(n)B(n) are known for n≤7n \le7 [1, 3, 2], and an upper bound for B(n)B(n) is given in [8]; for 8≤n≤108 \le n \le10, [2 Table 2] gives the smallest prime p0(n)∤np_0(n) \nmid n outside B(n)B(n), so that every prime p<p0(n)p < p_0(n) with p∤np \nmid n lies in B(n)B(n), and for 11≤n≤1911 \le n \le19 we are not aware of a published prime outside B(n)B(n). Theorem 1.3 gives information for all p∤Nnp \nmid N_n, without determining B(n)B(n); it is new where p∈B(n)p \in B(n) or where B(n)B(n) is not determined, and in the cases n=20n = 20 and n=24n = 24, where the conjecture is open. Table 1 lists the cases in which p∈B(n)p \in B(n) is established.

nnprimes p∈B(n)p \in B(n) with p∤Nnp \nmid N_nsource of p∈B(n)p \in B(n)
58009[3, 2]
6983, 1087, 1187, 1901, 2287, 3877, 4943, 6983, 15131, 150203, 266587, 547061, 685177, 885061, 17250187, 9348983563, 70016757407, 2610767527031, 225833117528659, 7390044713023799, 51313000813080529[2]
753, 101, 131, 163, 191, 229, 317, 331, 359, 419, 433, 509, 569Table 2
8167, 211, 251, 281, 293, 347, 373, 397[2 Table 2]
8421, 433, 439, 509, 541, 571, 587, 593, 599Table 2
9439, 463, 521, 557, 593, 613, 661, 677, 709, 739, 757, 769, 787, 811, 887, 919[2 Table 2]
10103 primes 919≤p≤3761919 \leq p \leq3761, listed in the ancillary files[2 Table 2]
20all p∤20N20p \nmid20N_{20}, e.g. p=231−1p = 2^{31}-1(20 is open)
24all p∤24N24p \nmid24N_{24}(24 is open)

Table 1. Degrees npenp^e (e≥1e \geq1) in which every characteristic-0 CA-polynomial has type ≥3\geq3.

Three lemmas

Lemma 2.1 (affine change). Let λ∈K×\lambda\in K^\times, μ∈K\mu\in K and g(x)=λ−df(λx+μ)g(x) = \lambda^{-d}f(\lambda x + \mu). Then Hig(x)=λi−d(Hif)(λx+μ)H_i g(x) = \lambda^{i-d}(H_i f)(\lambda x + \mu). In particular gg is a CA-polynomial if and only if ff is, R↦(R−μ)/λR \mapsto(R-\mu)/\lambda maps recycling sets of ff to recycling sets of gg, and type⁡(g)=type⁡(f)\operatorname{type}(g) = \operatorname{type}(f).

Proof. g(x+t)=λ−df(λx+μ+λt)=∑iλi−d(Hif)(λx+μ)tig(x+t) = \lambda^{-d}f(\lambda x+\mu+\lambda t) = \sum_i \lambda^{i-d}(H_i f)(\lambda x+\mu)t^i.

Lemma 2.2 (triangular form). Let f=∑j=0dajxd−jf = \sum_{j=0}^{d}a_jx^{d-j} with a0=1a_0 = 1 and f(0)=0f(0) = 0, and let ρ:{1,…,d−1}→R\rho: \{1,\ldots,d-1\} \to R be a map into a set of roots of ff with Hif(ρ(i))=0H_i f(\rho(i)) = 0. Then ad=0a_d = 0 and, for 1≤m≤d−11 \le m \le d-1,

am=−∑j=0m−1(d−jm−j)ajθm−j,θ=ρ(d−m).a_m = -\sum_{j=0}^{m-1}\binom{d-j}{m-j}a_j\theta^{m-j}, \qquad\theta= \rho(d-m).

In particular every coefficient of ff lies in Z[R]\mathbb{Z}[R]. This holds in every characteristic.

Proof. Hd−mf(θ)=∑j=0m(d−jm−j)ajθm−jH_{d-m}f(\theta) = \sum_{j=0}^{m}\binom{d-j}{m-j}a_j\theta^{m-j} and the coefficient of ama_m is 11.

Lemma 2.3 (descent). Let KK be a perfect field of characteristic pp, let pe∣dp^e \mid d, and let P∈K[x]P \in K[x] be monic of degree dd with gcd⁡(P,HiP)≠1\gcd(P,H_iP) \ne1 for every ii with p∤ip \nmid i. Then:

  1. P=QpeP = Q^{p^e} for a unique monic Q∈K[x]Q \in K[x] of degree d/ped/p^e;

  2. HkpeP=(HkQ)peH_{kp^e}P = (H_kQ)^{p^e} for all kk, and HiP=0H_iP = 0 if p∤ip \nmid i;

  3. if PP is a CA-polynomial, then QQ is a CA-polynomial, every recycling set of PP is a recycling set of QQ, and type⁡(Q)≤type⁡(P)\operatorname{type}(Q) \le\operatorname{type}(P).

Proof. (1) This is the argument of [1 Prop. 2.6]. Write P=∑jajxd−jP = \sum_j a_jx^{d-j} and assume aj=0a_j = 0 for all j<mj < m with pe∤jp^e \nmid j, where pe∤mp^e \nmid m. Then Hd−mP=∑j≤m(d−jm−j)ajxm−jH_{d-m}P = \sum_{j \le m}\binom{d-j}{m-j}a_jx^{m-j}. For j<mj < m with aj≠0a_j \ne0 we have pe∣d−jp^e \mid d-j and pe∤m−jp^e \nmid m-j, so p∣(d−jm−j)p \mid\binom{d-j}{m-j} by Kummer’s theorem (the lowest nonzero base-pp digit of m−jm-j sits in a position below ee, where d−jd-j has digit 00, so adding m−jm-j and d−md-m produces a carry). Hence Hd−mP=amH_{d-m}P = a_m is constant, and gcd⁡(P,am)≠1\gcd(P,a_m) \ne1 forces am=0a_m = 0. Thus PP is a polynomial in xpex^{p^e}, and P=QpeP = Q^{p^e} since KK is perfect. (2) P(x+t)=Q(x+t)pe=(∑kHkQ(x)tk)pe=∑k(HkQ(x))petkpeP(x+t) = Q(x+t)^{p^e} = \left(\sum_k H_kQ(x)t^k\right)^{p^e} = \sum_k(H_kQ(x))^{p^e}t^{kp^e}. (3) By (2), P(θ)=HkpeP(θ)=0P(\theta) = H_{kp^e}P(\theta) = 0 if and only if Q(θ)=HkQ(θ)=0Q(\theta) = H_kQ(\theta) = 0. If Q=(x−α)d/peQ = (x-\alpha)^{d/p^e} then P=(x−α)dP = (x-\alpha)^d.

Proof of Theorem 1.2

Let ff be a CA-polynomial of degree dd and type ≤k\leq k over a field of characteristic 0, with recycling set RR, 2≤∣R∣≤k+12 \leq|R| \leq k+1, and assignment ρ\rho as in Lemma 2.2.

Step 1: algebraic coefficients. Fix two distinct elements θ0,θ′\theta_0,\theta' of RR. The coefficients of ff, the elements of RR and (θ0−θ′)−1(\theta_0-\theta')^{-1} generate a nonzero finitely generated Q\mathbb{Q}-algebra AA, and the conditions f(θ)=0f(\theta)=0 (θ∈R\theta\in R), Hif(ρ(i))=0H_i f(\rho(i))=0 are polynomial identities in AA. A maximal ideal of AA has residue field a number field; the induced specialization preserves these identities and θ0≠θ′\theta_0 \ne\theta'. We may therefore assume that ff and RR are defined over a number field LL.

Step 2: integral model. Let p\mathfrak{p} be a prime of LL above pp, with valuation vv and valuation ring O\mathcal{O}. Choose θ1∈R∖{θ0}\theta_1 \in R \setminus\{\theta_0\} minimizing v(θ−θ0)v(\theta-\theta_0), put λ=θ1−θ0\lambda=\theta_1-\theta_0 and g(x)=λ−df(λx+θ0)g(x)=\lambda^{-d}f(\lambda x+\theta_0). By Lemma 2.1, gg is a CA-polynomial with recycling set R′=(R−θ0)/λ⊂OR'=(R-\theta_0)/\lambda\subset\mathcal{O}, and 0,1∈R′0,1 \in R'. By Lemma 2.2, applied to gg, R′R' and the transported assignment, all coefficients of gg lie in Z[R′]⊂O\mathbb{Z}[R'] \subset\mathcal{O}.

Step 3: reduction. Let g‾∈Fp[x]\overline{g} \in\mathbb{F}_p[x] be the reduction. For each ii, g‾\overline{g} and Hig‾=Hig‾H_i\overline{g}= \overline{H_i g} vanish at the reduction of ρ′(i)\rho'(i). Since g‾(0)=g‾(1)=0\overline{g}(0)=\overline{g}(1)=0, g‾\overline{g} is not a power of a linear polynomial. Thus g‾\overline{g} is a CA-polynomial of degree dd over Fp\mathbb{F}_p with a recycling set of at most k+1k+1 elements.

Step 4: descent. By Lemma 2.3 with pe∣dp^e \mid d, g‾=Qp\overline{g}=Q^p with QQ a CA-polynomial of degree nn and type⁡(Q)≤type⁡(g‾)≤k\operatorname{type}(Q)\leq\operatorname{type}(\overline{g})\leq k, contrary to the hypothesis. □

Type at most two: the integer NnN_n

Fix n≥3n \geq3. For σ:{1,…,n−1}→{0,1,2}\sigma:\{1,\ldots,n-1\}\to\{0,1,2\} with σ(n−1)=0\sigma(n-1)=0, let Fσ=∑m=0namxn−m∈Z[y][x]F_\sigma=\sum_{m=0}^{n}a_mx^{n-m}\in\mathbb{Z}[y][x] be defined by a0=1a_0=1, an=0a_n=0 and the recursion of Lemma 2.2 with θ=0,1,y\theta=0,1,y according as σ(m)=0,1,2\sigma(m)=0,1,2. Put

E1σ(y)=Fσ(1),E2σ(y)=Fσ(y).E_1^\sigma(y)=F_\sigma(1),\qquad E_2^\sigma(y)=F_\sigma(y).

For ∅≠S⊆{1,…,n−2}\varnothing\ne S\subseteq\{1,\ldots,n-2\} let cn(S)∈Zc_n(S)\in\mathbb{Z} be the value Fσ(1)F_\sigma(1) for σ=1S\sigma=\mathbf{1}_S (no label 2). By induction deg⁡yam≤m\deg_y a_m\leq m, so deg⁡E2σ≤n\deg E_2^\sigma\leq n.

Lemma 4.1. The coefficient of yny^n in E2σE_2^\sigma is cn(σ−1(2))c_n(\sigma^{-1}(2)), and E1σ(0)=cn(σ−1(1))E_1^\sigma(0)=c_n(\sigma^{-1}(1)). If σ′\sigma' is obtained from σ\sigma by exchanging the labels 1 and 2, then E1σ(y)=ynE2σ′(1/y)E_1^\sigma(y)=y^nE_2^{\sigma'}(1/y) and E2σ(y)=ynE1σ′(1/y)E_2^\sigma(y)=y^nE_1^{\sigma'}(1/y).

Proof. Put bm(u)=umam(1/u)∈Z[u]b_m(u)=u^m a_m(1/u)\in\mathbb{Z}[u]. Multiplying the recursion for ama_m at y=1/uy=1/u by umu^m gives bm=−∑j<m(n−jm−j)bj(uθ)m−jb_m=-\sum_{j<m}\binom{n-j}{m-j}b_j(u\theta)^{m-j} with uθ=0,u,1u\theta=0,u,1 for the labels 0,1,2 of σ\sigma; this is the recursion of Fσ′F_{\sigma'} at parameter uu. Hence E2σ(y)=∑mam(y)yn−m=yn∑mbm(1/y)=ynE1σ′(1/y)E_2^\sigma(y)=\sum_m a_m(y)y^{n-m}=y^n\sum_m b_m(1/y)=y^nE_1^{\sigma'}(1/y) and E1σ(y)=∑mam(y)=yn∑mbm(1/y)ym−n=ynE2σ′(1/y)E_1^\sigma(y)=\sum_m a_m(y)=y^n\sum_m b_m(1/y)y^{m-n}=y^nE_2^{\sigma'}(1/y). At u=0u=0 the positions labelled 1 in σ\sigma are served by 0 and those labelled 2 by 1, so [yn]E2σ=∑mbm(0)=cn(σ−1(2))[y^n]E_2^\sigma=\sum_m b_m(0)=c_n(\sigma^{-1}(2)). Similarly E1σ(0)E_1^\sigma(0) is the value at x=1x=1 of the recursion in which label 2 is served by 0, that is cn(σ−1(1))c_n(\sigma^{-1}(1)). □

Since cn(S)≠0c_n(S)\ne0 for all SS ([2, §2.2], [6]), E2σE_2^\sigma has degree exactly nn. Let Σn\Sigma_n be the set of σ\sigma using both labels 1 and 2, and define

Nn=∏∅≠S⊆{1,…,n−2}cn(S)⋅∏σ∈ΣnRes⁡y(E1σ,E2σ)∈Z.N_n=\prod_{\varnothing\ne S\subseteq\{1,\ldots,n-2\}}c_n(S)\cdot\prod_{\sigma\in\Sigma_n}\operatorname{Res}_y(E_1^\sigma,E_2^\sigma)\in\mathbb{Z}.

Proposition 4.2. Let pp be a prime. There is a CA-polynomial of degree nn and type at most 2 over Fp\mathbb{F}_p if and only if p∣Nnp\mid N_n.

Proof. Let PP be such a polynomial with a minimal recycling set RR and assignment ρ\rho. Since P(θ0)=P′(θ0)=0P(\theta_0)=P'(\theta_0)=0 for θ0=ρ(1)\theta_0=\rho(1), choose θ1∈R∖{θ0}\theta_1\in R\setminus\{\theta_0\} and apply Lemma 2.1 with μ=θ0\mu=\theta_0, λ=θ1−θ0\lambda=\theta_1-\theta_0. Now R={0,1}R=\{0,1\} or R={0,1,z}R=\{0,1,z\} with z∉{0,1}z\notin\{0,1\}, and ρ(1)=0\rho(1)=0. Let σ(m)∈{0,1,2}\sigma(m)\in\{0,1,2\} be the label of ρ(n−m)\rho(n-m) (with 0,1,z0,1,z labelled 0,1,20,1,2); then σ(n−1)=0\sigma(n-1)=0 and, by Lemma 2.2, P=FσP=F_\sigma mod pp evaluated at y=zy=z. If pp divides some cn(S)c_n(S), then p∣Nnp \mid N_n; assume not. If R={0,1}R=\{0,1\}, then S=σ−1(1)≠∅S=\sigma^{-1}(1)\ne\varnothing (otherwise P=xnP=x^n) and 0=P(1)≡cn(S)0=P(1)\equiv c_n(S), a contradiction. If R={0,1,z}R=\{0,1,z\}, minimality gives σ∈Σn\sigma\in\Sigma_n, and zz is a common root of E‾1σ,E‾2σ\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2. Since p∤cn(σ−1(2))=lc⁡(E2σ)p\nmid c_n(\sigma^{-1}(2))=\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2), we have Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)≡±lc⁡(E2σ)δRes⁡(E‾1σ,E‾2σ)≡0(modp)\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2)\equiv\pm\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2)^{\delta}\operatorname{Res}(\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2)\equiv0\pmod p for some δ≥0\delta\ge0 (and Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)=0\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2)=0 directly if E‾1σ=0\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1=0). Hence p∣Nnp\mid N_n.

Conversely, if p∣cn(S)p\mid c_n(S) for some SS, then F1SF_{1S} mod pp satisfies all the conditions with recycling set {0,1}\{0,1\} and has the roots 0≠10\ne1, so it is a CA-polynomial of type 1. If p∣Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)p\mid\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2) and p∣lc⁡(E2σ)=cn(σ−1(2))p\mid\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2)=c_n(\sigma^{-1}(2)), the previous case applies. If p∣Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)p\mid\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2) and p∤lc⁡(E2σ)p\nmid\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2), then E‾1σ,E‾2σ\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2 have a common root z∈Fpz\in\mathbb{F}_p (or E‾1σ=0\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1=0 and zz is any root of E‾2σ\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2), and Fσ(z)F_\sigma(z) mod pp is a CA-polynomial with recycling set {0,1,z}\{0,1,z\}.

Proposition 4.3. For 3≤n≤203\le n\le20, Nn≠0N_n\ne0 and q=231−1q=2^{31}-1 does not divide NnN_n. Moreover N21N_{21}, N22N_{22} and N24N_{24} are nonzero.

Verification. For n≤20n\le20 and all SS, cn(S)c_n(S) was computed exactly; none is 0 or divisible by qq (for n=20n=20 these are 218−12^{18}-1 values). For every nn one has cn(S)≠0c_n(S)\ne0 [2 §2.2], [6], which is all that is used below for n=21,22,24n=21,22,24. For every σ∈Σn\sigma\in\Sigma_n whose first nonzero label is 1, it was checked that gcd⁡(E‾1σ,E‾2σ)=1\gcd(\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2)=1 in Fq[y]\mathbb{F}_q[y]; as q∤lc⁡(E2σ)=cn(σ−1(2))q\nmid\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2)=c_n(\sigma^{-1}(2)) (by the values above for n≤20n\le20, and checked for each such σ\sigma for n≥21n\ge21), this gives q∤Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)q\nmid\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2). Every σ∈Σn\sigma\in\Sigma_n is of this form or is τ−1\tau^{-1} for such a τ\tau. In the latter case, a common root ζ\zeta of E‾1σ,E‾2σ\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2 would satisfy ζ≠0\zeta\ne0, since E‾1σ(0)=cn(σ−1(1))≠0\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1(0)=c_n(\sigma^{-1}(1))\ne0, and then 1/ζ1/\zeta would be a common root for τ\tau by Lemma 4.1; so again q∤Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)q\nmid\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2). The number of such σ\sigma is (3n−2−2n−1+1)/2(3^{n-2}-2^{n-1}+1)/2; for n=20,21,22,24n=20,21,22,24 it is 193 448 101, 580 606 446, 1 742 343 625 and 15 686 335 501. For n=21n=21 the gcd condition modulo qq holds for all of them; for n=22n=22 and n=24n=24 it holds except for three and five maps σ\sigma respectively, listed in the ancillary files; for each of these, gcd⁡(E‾1σ,E‾2σ)=1\gcd(\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2)=1 modulo 109+710^9+7, which does not divide lc⁡(E2σ)\operatorname{lc}(E^{\sigma}_2), so again Res⁡(E1σ,E2σ)≠0\operatorname{Res}(E^{\sigma}_1,E^{\sigma}_2)\ne0; for n=21,22,24n=21,22,24 the reflected maps are handled as above with C\mathbb{C} in place of Fq\mathbb{F}_q, using only cn(S)≠0c_n(S)\ne0 for all SS. The computation was done with two implementations of the same algorithm, in Python and in C; the ancillary file verify_ca_type.py repeats it for n≤12n\le12 together with all checks of Section 5, and run_t2f.py, which compiles and runs a C program, covers n≤22n\le22 and n=24n=24.

Remark 4.4. For n=20n=20 and n=24n=24 the certificate covers all 3n−23^{n-2} maps σ∈Σn\sigma\in\Sigma_n directly, the other half by Lemma 4.1, and the maps without label 2 through the values cn(S)c_n(S), including those with σ(1)=0\sigma(1)=0, i.e. those where the root of Hn−1fH_{n-1}f (the barycentre of the roots) is the multiple root. The enumeration of [7 Thm. 7.10] is carried out with yn−1=1y_{n-1}=1.

Proof of Theorem 1.3 and explicit families

Theorem 1.3 follows from Theorem 1.2 with k=2k=2, Proposition 4.2 and Proposition 4.3. For a given prime pp, deciding whether p∣Nnp\mid N_n is a computation over Fp\mathbb{F}_p: one checks p∤cn(S)p\nmid c_n(S) for all SS and gcd⁡(E‾1σ,E‾2σ)=1\gcd(\overline{E}^{\sigma}_1,\overline{E}^{\sigma}_2)=1 for all σ∈Σn\sigma\in\Sigma_n. By Proposition 4.2 every prime divisor of NnN_n lies in B(n)B(n); for n=5,6n=5,6 the prime divisors of NnN_n up to 3⋅1043\cdot10^4 are indeed elements of the published lists, and the primes p0(7),p0(8),p0(9),p0(10)=127,419,941,3803p_0(7),p_0(8),p_0(9),p_0(10)=127,419,941,3803 of [2 Table 2], which lie outside B(n)B(n), do not divide NnN_n, as they must. Running the test on the known elements of B(n)B(n) gives Table 1; for n=8,9,10n=8,9,10 these are the primes n<p<p0(n)n<p<p_0(n), and the witnesses of Table 2. The row n=7n=7, and the part of the row n=8n=8 beyond p0(8)p_0(8), contain only primes for which Table 2 gives a witness; they are not exhaustive.

nnppCA-polynomial of degree nn over Fp\mathbb{F}_p
753x7+46x6+51x4+15x3+46x2x^7 + 46x^6 + 51x^4 + 15x^3 + 46x^2
7101x7+94x6+12x5+5x4+23x3+67x2x^7 + 94x^6 + 12x^5 + 5x^4 + 23x^3 + 67x^2
7131x7+110x5+43x4+111x3+128x2x^7 + 110x^5 + 43x^4 + 111x^3 + 128x^2
7163x7+156x6+41x5+28x4+72x3+28x2x^7 + 156x^6 + 41x^5 + 28x^4 + 72x^3 + 28x^2
7191x7+184x6+24x5+164x4+189x3+11x2x^7 + 184x^6 + 24x^5 + 164x^4 + 189x^3 + 11x^2
7229x7+222x6+153x4+82x3x^7 + 222x^6 + 153x^4 + 82x^3
7317x7+310x6+143x5+140x4+40x2x^7 + 310x^6 + 143x^5 + 140x^4 + 40x^2
7331x7+324x6+168x5+169x2x^7 + 324x^6 + 168x^5 + 169x^2
7359x7+352x6+75x5+331x4+318x3x^7 + 352x^6 + 75x^5 + 331x^4 + 318x^3
7419x7+398x5+137x4+272x3+30x2x^7 + 398x^5 + 137x^4 + 272x^3 + 30x^2
7433x7+426x6+226x5+213x4x^7 + 426x^6 + 226x^5 + 213x^4
7509x7+502x6+191x4+145x3+179x2x^7 + 502x^6 + 191x^4 + 145x^3 + 179x^2
7569x7+562x6+568x5+135x4+441x2x^7 + 562x^6 + 568x^5 + 135x^4 + 441x^2
8167x8+159x7+48x6+121x5+58x3+114x2x^8 + 159x^7 + 48x^6 + 121x^5 + 58x^3 + 114x^2
8211x8+203x7+112x5+155x4+79x3+83x2x^8 + 203x^7 + 112x^5 + 155x^4 + 79x^3 + 83x^2
8251x8+243x7+186x6+181x4+47x3+95x2x^8 + 243x^7 + 186x^6 + 181x^4 + 47x^3 + 95x^2
8281x8+273x7+85x5+38x4+151x3+14x2x^8 + 273x^7 + 85x^5 + 38x^4 + 151x^3 + 14x^2
8293x8+285x7+183x6+201x5+124x4+211x3+167x2x^8 + 285x^7 + 183x^6 + 201x^5 + 124x^4 + 211x^3 + 167x^2
8347x8+339x7+241x6+74x5+42x4+344x3x^8 + 339x^7 + 241x^6 + 74x^5 + 42x^4 + 344x^3
8373x8+365x7+46x5+300x4+34x2x^8 + 365x^7 + 46x^5 + 300x^4 + 34x^2
8421x8+413x7+28x6+314x5+403x4+212x3+313x2x^8 + 413x^7 + 28x^6 + 314x^5 + 403x^4 + 212x^3 + 313x^2
8433x8+425x7+43x6+122x5+44x3+231x2x^8 + 425x^7 + 43x^6 + 122x^5 + 44x^3 + 231x^2
8439x8+431x7+254x5+257x4+168x3+206x2x^8 + 431x^7 + 254x^5 + 257x^4 + 168x^3 + 206x^2
8509x8+501x7+237x6+65x3+214x2x^8 + 501x^7 + 237x^6 + 65x^3 + 214x^2
8541x8+485x5+174x4+422x2x^8 + 485x^5 + 174x^4 + 422x^2
8571x8+563x7+546x5+373x4+124x3+106x2x^8 + 563x^7 + 546x^5 + 373x^4 + 124x^3 + 106x^2
8587x8+579x7+167x6+355x5+74x4+499x3+86x2x^8 + 579x^7 + 167x^6 + 355x^5 + 74x^4 + 499x^3 + 86x^2
8593x8+585x7+402x6+198x4x^8 + 585x^7 + 402x^6 + 198x^4
8599x8+591x7+429x6+440x5+168x3+168x2x^8 + 591x^7 + 429x^6 + 440x^5 + 168x^3 + 168x^2

Table 2. Witnesses for p∈B(7)p \in B(7) and p∈B(8)p \in B(8).

Each polynomial f∈Fp[x]f\in\mathbb{F}_p[x] of Table 2 (degree n=7n=7 or 8) shares a root with HifH_i f for 1≤i≤n−11\le i\le n-1 and has at least four distinct roots in Fp\mathbb{F}_p, so it is a CA-polynomial and p∈B(n)p\in B(n). By Proposition 4.2 and Table 1, none of these primes admits a CA-polynomial of degree nn and type at most 2; the witnesses have recycling sets {0,1,y,w}\{0,1,y,w\} with y,w∈Fpy,w\in\mathbb{F}_p. For the degrees in Table 1 the conjecture is not covered by the method of [1, 4], which needs a prime rr with d=n′re′d = n'r^{e'}, r∤n′r \nmid n', and no CA-polynomial of degree n′n' over F‾r\overline{\mathbb{F}}_r. If r∤n′r \nmid n' and n′>rn' > r, there is such a CA-polynomial: write n′=∑jnj′rjn' = \sum_j n'_j r^j in base rr, let m=nh′rhm = n'_h r^h be its leading term, so that 1≤n′−m1 \leq n' - m because n0′≠0n'_0 \neq0, and put f=xn′−m(xm−1)=xn′−xn′−mf = x^{n'-m}(x^m - 1) = x^{n'} - x^{n'-m}. Then Hif=(n′i)xn′−i−(n′−mi)xn′−m−iH_i f = \binom{n'}{i}x^{n'-i} - \binom{n'-m}{i}x^{n'-m-i} vanishes at 0 for i≠n′−mi \neq n'-m, while Hn′−mf=(n′m)xm−1≡xm−1H_{n'-m}f = \binom{n'}{m}x^m - 1 \equiv x^m - 1 by Lucas’ theorem vanishes at the root 1 of ff. In every row p>np > n: for n∈{20,24}n \in\{20,24\} this holds because a prime p<np < n with p∤np \nmid n divides NnN_n by the construction just given and Proposition 4.2. If r∤dr \nmid d (that is, e′=0e' = 0 and n′=dn' = d), the same construction applies when r<dr < d, while a prime r>dr > d would require deciding the absence of CA-polynomials of degree dd itself over F‾r\overline{\mathbb{F}}_r, which we are not aware of for these degrees. For d=nped = np^e (e≥1e \geq1) as in the table, every prime r≠pr \neq p dividing dd divides n<pn < p, so its cofactor n′n' satisfies r∤n′r \nmid n' and n′≥pe>rn' \geq p^e > r; and for r=pr = p the cofactor is nn with p∈B(n)p \in B(n), or n∈{20,24}n \in\{20,24\}, where the absence of CA-polynomials of degree nn in characteristic pp is not known.

Type at least four

Theorem 1.2 holds for every kk. For k=3k = 3 its hypothesis in degree nn and characteristic pp, with p∤Nnp \nmid N_n, reduces to the absence of CA-polynomials of type exactly 3. As in Proposition 4.2, such a polynomial can be normalized to have the recycling set {0,1,y,w}\{0,1,y,w\}, with 0 serving H1H_1 and with the labels 1, 2, 3 of the roots 1, yy, ww in order of first appearance along m=1,…,n−2m = 1,\ldots,n-2. Lemma 2.2 gives Fσ∈Z[y,w][x]F_\sigma\in\mathbb{Z}[y,w][x] for each such labelling σ\sigma, and the polynomial exists if and only if, for some σ\sigma, the three polynomials

Aσ=Fσ(1),Bσ=Fσ(y),Cσ=Fσ(w)A_\sigma= F_\sigma(1), \qquad B_\sigma= F_\sigma(y), \qquad C_\sigma= F_\sigma(w)

have a common zero in F‾p2\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p^2; any such zero gives a CA-polynomial of type at most 3, since its roots 0, 1 are distinct. The number of maps σ\sigma is 10, 350, 1701 and 7770 for n=6,8,9,10n = 6, 8, 9, 10.

Proposition 6.1. For the pairs (n,p)(n,p) with n=6n = 6, p∈{983,1901,51313000813080529}p \in\{983, 1901, 51313000813080529\}; n=8n = 8, p=397p = 397; n=9n = 9, p∈{613,757}p \in\{613,757\}; n=10n = 10, p∈{1667,1933,2053,2549,2621,2683,2957,3167,3221,3229,3313,3449,3697}p \in\{1667,1933,2053,2549,2621,2683,2957,3167,3221,3229,3313,3449,3697\}, there is no CA-polynomial of degree nn and type at most 3 over F‾p\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p.

Verification. Type at most 2 is excluded by p∤Nnp \nmid N_n (§ 5). For every σ\sigma,

gcd⁡(Res⁡w(Aσ,Cσ),Res⁡w(Bσ,Cσ))=1 in Fp[y]or\gcd(\operatorname{Res}_w(A_\sigma,C_\sigma),\operatorname{Res}_w(B_\sigma,C_\sigma))=1 \text{ in } \mathbb{F}_p[y] \quad\text{or}
gcd⁡(Res⁡y(Aσ,Bσ),Res⁡y(Cσ,Bσ))=1 in Fp[w];\gcd(\operatorname{Res}_y(A_\sigma,B_\sigma),\operatorname{Res}_y(C_\sigma,B_\sigma))=1 \text{ in } \mathbb{F}_p[w];

since a common zero (y0,w0)(y_0,w_0) makes y0y_0 a common root of the first two resultants and w0w_0 of the last two, no σ\sigma admits a common zero. Independently, for n≤9n \le9 and for n=10n=10 with p∈{1667,3697}p \in\{1667,3697\}, a Gröbner basis of (Aσ,Bσ,Cσ)(A_\sigma,B_\sigma,C_\sigma) over Fp\mathbb{F}_p was computed for every σ\sigma and found to be {1}\{1\}. For the other primes of the row n=10n=10 only the resultant certificate was computed; the same program, run on the 90 other primes of that row, found the common zeros confirmed by Gröbner bases. For n=6n=6 and n=8n=8 the resultant certificate is repeated by the ancillary file verify_type4.py, and for n=9,10n=9,10 by type3_check.py, which requires sympy. □

Corollary 6.2. For the pairs (n,p)(n,p) of Proposition 6.1 and every e≥0e \ge0, every CA-polynomial of degree npenp^e in characteristic 0 has type at least 4, that is, at least five recycled roots.

All these primes lie in B(n)B(n) ([2 Table 1] for n=6n=6, [2 Table 2] for $n=8,9,10), so CA-polynomials of type at least 4 exist in these characteristics. For n=6n=6 this is confirmed directly: a CA-polynomial of degree 6 and type 4 has a double root and four simple roots, each serving exactly one of H2,…,H5H_2,\ldots,H_5, and Table 3 gives one for each of the three primes, with five distinct recycled roots in Fp\mathbb{F}_p.

ppCA-polynomial of degree 6 and type 4 over Fp\mathbb{F}_p (recycled roots)
983x6+977x5+804x4+241x3+926x2x^6+977x^5+804x^4+241x^3+926x^2 (0,1,13,549,426)(0,1,13,549,426)
1901x6+1895x5+1782x4+1698x3+327x2x^6+1895x^5+1782x^4+1698x^3+327x^2 (0,1,564,428,914)(0,1,564,428,914)
51313000813080529x6+51313000813080523x5+48712599420079589x4+35570669974212077x3+18342732231869397x2x^6+51313000813080523x^5+48712599420079589x^4+35570669974212077x^3+18342732231869397x^2 (0,1,14982068566704741,28063784095573572,8267148150802221)(0,1,14982068566704741,28063784095573572,8267148150802221)

Table 3. CA-polynomials of type 4 in degree 6.

For the 18 other primes of the row n=6n=6 of Table 1 (by Gröbner bases) and for the other primes of the rows n=7,8n=7,8 (Table 2), CA-polynomials of type 3 exist over F‾p\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p. For the other 14 primes of the row n=9n=9 the resultant certificate fails; we have not decided whether CA-polynomials of type 3 exist there. For the other 90 primes of the row n=10n=10 a common zero exists for some σ\sigma, so CA-polynomials of type 3 exist.

References

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