On the distribution of irreducible trinomials over \(\mathbb F_3\) (Q2370648)

Let \(\mathbb{F}_q\) be a finite field of odd characteristic and \(0\not=\alpha\in\mathbb{F}_q\). The author proves that the trinomial \(x^n+ax^k+b\in\mathbb{F}_q[x]\) is irreducible over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) if and only if \(\alpha^{2^{r-s}n'}x^n+a\alpha^{k'}x^k+b\) is irreducible over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) where \(n=2^rn'\) and \(k=2^sk'\) with odd integers \(n',k'\) and \(r>s\geq0\). Applying the result to \(q=3\) provides a proof for a conjecture concerning the distribution of irreducible trinomials over \(\mathbb{F}_3\) given by \textit{J. von zur Gathen} [Math. Comput. 72, No. 244, 1987--2000 (2003; Zbl 1083.11078)].