Additive bases of vector spaces over prime fields (Q1175950)

Let \(B_ 1,\dots,B_ t\) be linear bases in the \(n\)-dimensional vector space \(\mathbb{Z}^ n_ p\) over the finite field \(\mathbb{Z}_ p\), where \(p\) is a prime. It is proved that for \(t>(p-1)\log n+p-2\) the union \(B=\cup B_ i\) (with repetitions) forms an additive basis in the sense that every element can be expressed as a \(0-1\) combination of elements of \(B\). The authors also show that \(p-1\) bases in general do not suffice. The problem whether a bound depending only on \(p\) exists remains open.