On homogeneous additive congruences (Q1121312)

Let \(k\geq 1\) be a rational integer and let \(\alpha_ 1,...,\alpha_ s\) be a set of given integers in an algebraic number field K of degree n. Making refinements of Siegel's generalized circle method on Waring's problem in algebraic number fields the author obtained [Acta Arith. 48, 117-144 and 307-323 (1987; Zbl 0569.10007 and Zbl 0576.10013)] interesting results on small solutions of the equation \[ \alpha_ 1x^ k_ 1+...+\alpha_ sx^ k_ s=0. \] As an essential nature of the method, it requires the positiveness of the singular series which is equivalent to the solubility of the congruence \[ \alpha_ 1x^ k_ 1+...+\alpha_ sx^ k_ s\equiv 0 (mod {\mathcal P}^ r) \] where \({\mathcal P}^ r\) is a prime ideal power of K. Write \(\Gamma^*(k,K)=\max_{{\mathcal P},r} \Gamma^*(k,K,{\mathcal P}^ r)\) where \(\Gamma^*(k,K,{\mathcal P}^ r)\) is the least number such that if \(s\geq \Gamma^*(k,K,{\mathcal P}^ r)\) then the above congruence has a nontrivial solution in integers \(x_ 1,...,x_ s.\) In this paper the author obtains \[ \Gamma^*(k,K)\leq ckn \log k\quad if\quad k\quad is\quad odd,\quad or\quad \leq (2k)^{n+1}\quad if\quad k\quad is\quad an\quad integer \] where \(c>0\) is a constant. This extends a result due to \textit{S. Chowla} and \textit{G. Shimura} [Norske Vid. Selsk. Forhdl. (Trondheim) 36, 169-176 (1964; Zbl 0119.044)] on \(\Gamma^*(k,Q)\) for odd k.