Existence results on \(k\)-normal elements over finite fields (Q2313563)

Summary: An element \(\alpha \in \mathbb{F}_{q^n}\) is normal over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) if \(\alpha\) and its conjugates \(\alpha, \alpha^q, \ldots, \alpha^{q^{n-1}}\) form a basis of \(\mathbb{F}_{q^n}\) over \(\mathbb{F}_q\). In 2013, [\textit{S. Huczynska} et al., Finite Fields Appl. 24, 170--183 (2013; Zbl 1305.11108)] introduced the concept of \(k\)-normal elements, generalizing the normal elements. In the past few years, many questions concerning the existence and number of \(k\)-normal elements with specified properties have been proposed. In this paper, we discuss some of these questions and, in particular, we provide many general results on the existence of \(k\)-normal elements with additional properties like being primitive or having large multiplicative order. We also discuss the existence and construction of \(k\)-normal elements in finite fields, providing a connection between \(k\)-normal elements and the factorization of \(x^n-1\) over \(\mathbb{F}_q\).