Periodic harmonic functions on lattices and points count in positive characteristic (Q1040214)

This survey deals with pluri-periodic harmonic functions on lattices with values in a field of positive characteristic. It is motivated by the game ``Lights Out'', which is played on a finite graph with vertices labelled by 0 and 1. The goal is to change all states to 0, with each move changing the states of a vertex and all its immediate neighbors. A function \(h\) from the set of vertices to an abelian group is harmonic if it satisfies \(h(v) + \sum_{v'} h(v') = 0\) for all vertices \(v\), where the sum runs over all immediate neighbors of \(v\). A graph admits a nonzero harmonic function if and only if there exists an initial configuration with no solution to the ``Lights Out'' problem. The problem is extended to lattices, where pluri-periodic functions come into play, i.e., functions having a sublattice of periods of finite index. Connections are made with generalized Chebyshev-Dickson polynomials, certain subvarieties of tori, harmonic characters, and Artin's conjecture on primitive roots. The special case of harmonic functions on trees is studied as well.