A problem analogous to Artin's conjecture for primitive roots and its applications (Q1193272)

For any integer \(a\neq 0,1\) or \(-1\), let \(S_ a^{(n)}(x)\) denote the number of primes \(p\leq x\) such that \(p\nmid a\) and \(a\) has order \((p- 1)/n\) modulo \(p\). For \(n=1\) this is merely the number of primes for which \(a\) is a primitive root. Assuming the Riemann hypothesis for the Dedekind zeta-functions of appropriate number fields, \textit{C. Hooley} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 225, 209-220 (1967; Zbl 0221.10048)] proved an asymptotic formula for \(S_ a^{(1)}(x)\). The present paper does the same for \(S_ a^{(n)}(x)\) in general, with error terms in which the dependence on \(a\) and \(n\) is given explicitly. The proof is via Hooley's method, but there are additional calculations involving the fields that arise.