On the non-existence of generalized Hadamard matrices (Q5918026)

Butson Hadamard matrices \(\text{BH}(h,n)\) are defined to have \(n\)-roots of unity for coefficients and to verify \(\text{BH}(h,n) \text{BH}(h,n)^* = h I\); see for instance the survey \textit{J. L. Hayden} [Des. Codes Cryptography 12, No. 1, 69-73 (1997; Zbl 0883.05028)]. Butson gave a necessary condition for the existence of \(\text{BH}(h,n)\) when \(n\) is a prime; see \textit{A. T. Butson} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 13, 894-898 (1963; Zbl 0109.24605)]. The author extends that condition to the case when \(n\) is a prime power. Then the author deals with the solvability of norm forms of cyclotomic number fields and gets a more precise necessary condition, in terms of the Legendre symbol, for the existence of Butson Hadamard matrices \(\text{BH}(h,n)\) when \(n=k p^f \), \(k = 0,1\) and \(p\equiv 3\pmod 4\) is a prime. The paper is well illustrated, referenced and annoted.