On the additive energy of the Heilbronn subgroup (Q2396391)

A new upper bound for the additive energy of the Heilbronn subgroup is found. Several applications to the distribution of Fermat quotients are obtained. The trigonometric sum of Heilbronn is defined as \[ S(a) = \sum_{n=1}^p \exp(2\pi i\cdot an^p/p^2), \] where \(p\) is a prime. Then the following result is proven: Theorem. Let \(p\) be a prime number and \(\Gamma = \{m^p: 1\le m\le p-1\} \subseteq \mathbb Z/(p^2\mathbb Z)\) a multiplicative subgroup. Then \[ \sum_{a\in\Gamma} |S(a)|^4 \ll p^{58/13} \log^{14/13}p. \] For a previous estimate see \textit{I. D. Shkredov} [Q. J. Math. 64, No. 4, 1221--1230 (2013; Zbl 1282.11101)].