Cubic CNS polynomials, notes on a conjecture of W. J. Gilbert (Q1399328)

Let \(P\in \mathbb Z[X]\) be a monic polynomial with \(P(0)>1\) and \(\mathcal N=\{0,1, \ldots, P(0)-1\}\). A canonical number system (CNS) is a pair \((P,\mathcal N)\) for which every non-zero element of the quotient ring \(\mathbb Z[X]/(P)\) can uniquely be written in the form \(a_0+a_1X+\cdots +a_kX^k\) where \(a_0\), \(a_1\), \dots,\(a_k\in \mathcal N\) and \(a_k\not=0\). The problem of characterizing CNS polynomials is still open for degrees \(>2\). The present paper contains a partial proof of a conjecture of W. J. Gilbert on the characterization of cubic CNS polynomials and shows that this conjecture is not complete. Applications to power integral bases of simplest cubic number fields are given.