Finite fields, integral matrices, and diophantine equations (Q1063067)

Let H be a subgroup of the multiplicative group \(F^{\times}\) of any field F and let \(c,d\in F^{\times}\). The author defines the translated coset \(c+dH=\{c+dh|\) \(h\in H\}\) and proves interesting results on the sets \(H\cap (c+dH).\) If \(F={\mathbb{F}}_ q\), the finite field of q elements, we can get an \(e\times e\) matrix \(C_ e\) associated to each divisor e of q-1 (cf. the matrix of Gauss' cyclotomic numbers \(A_{ij})\). In sections 3,4,5 the author proves a large number of results about \(C_ e\). In sections 6,7, q is taken as a prime and then the notion of translated cosets gets naturally tied to the theory of Gauss' periods. Finally section 8 considers a whole lot of unsolvable diophantine equations of the form \(\gamma^ ix^ e+\gamma^ jy^ e=z^ e\) (\(\gamma\),i,j non-negative integers). It is only when one sees the tie up with cyclotomy that one finds the results interesting and fruitful.