\(X\)-coordinates of Pell equations which are Lucas numbers (Q2010828): Difference between revisions

For a fixed non-square integer \(d > 1\), let \(X_n\) denote the \(X\)-coordinate of the \(n\)th power of the fundamental solution \((X_1,Y_1)\) of the Pell equation \[ X^2 - dY^2 = \pm 1 \enspace. \] Let \(L_m\) denote the \(m\)th Lucas number, where \(L_0=2,\) \(L_1=1,\) and \(L_{m+2} = L_{m+1} + L_m\) for \(m \geq 0.\) Following similar results studying \(X\)-coordinates of Pell equations equal to Fibonacci numbers [\textit{F. Luca} and \textit{A. Togbé}, Math. Scand. 122, No. 1, 18--30 (2018; Zbl 1416.11027)] and Tribonacci numbers [\textit{F. Luca} et al., Acta Arith. 179, No. 1, 25--35 (2017; Zbl 1410.11007)], this paper proves that there is at most one solution to the Diophantine equation \(X_n = L_m\) except when \(d=1\) and the negative Pell equation (right hand side is \(-1\)) is considered. Following the methods used in these preceding papers, the result is obtained by determining a bound on the possible solutions using linear forms in logarithms and computation up to that bound.