On completely free elements in finite fields (Q1321563)

Let \(q>1\) be a prime power and \(m>1\) an integer and \(GF (q^ m)\) the Galois field of order \(q^ m\). Let \(\sigma: GF (q^ m) \to GF (q^ m)\), \(\nu\to \nu^ q\) be the Frobenius automorphism of \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q)\). The Galois group of \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q)\) is cyclic of order \(m\) and is generated by \(\sigma\). \(GF (q^ d)\) is a subfield of \(GF (q^ m)\) iff \(d\mid m\). The additive group \((GF (q^ m),+)\) of \(GF (q^ m)\) becomes a cyclic \(GF (q^ d) [x ]\)-module with scalar multiplication defined by: \[ (f,\nu)_ d= \sum_ i f_ i \nu^{q^{di}} \] for the polynomial \(f\) over \(GF (q^ d)\) and \(\nu\in GF (q^ m)\). The module is denoted by \(GF (q^ m, q^ d, \sigma^ d)\). A generator of \(GF (q^ m, q^ d, \sigma^ d)\), say \(w\), is called a free element of \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q^ d)\) and the set \[ \{w, \sigma^ d (w), \cdots, \sigma^{m-d} (w)\} \] is a normal basis of \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q^ d)\). The different module structures of \((GF (q^ m), +)\), arising from the different intermediate fields are studied using cyclotomic polynomials. An element of \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q)\) which is free with respect to any intermediate field is called completely free in \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q)\). The existence of completely free elements was previously established by \textit{D. Blessenohl} and \textit{K. Johnsen} [J. Algebra 103, 141-159 (1986; Zbl 0607.12011)]. A detailed, simpler and constructive proof of this theorem is given for the case \(m\) a prime power from which the general can be shown to follow. Also, a recursive formula is given for the number of completely free elements in \(GF (q^ m)\) over \(GF (q)\) for the case when \(m\) is a prime power.