Estimates on the number of \(\mathbb{F}_q\)-rational solutions of variants of diagonal equations over finite fields (Q1994944)

In this paper the authors develop methodology for estimating the number of \(\mathbb{F}_q\)-rational solutions of equations of the type \[f(P_{m_1},P_{m_2},\ldots,P_{m_d})+X_1^e+\cdots+X_n^e+g_1=0,\] where \(P_{m_i}\) are power-sum polynomials in \(\mathbb{F}_q[X_1,\ldots,X_n]\), \(g_1\in \mathbb{F}_q[X_1,\ldots,X_n]\) with \(\deg g_1<e.\) The methodology relies on the study of the geometry of the set of common zeros of symmetric polynomials over the algebraic closure of \(\mathbb{F}_q\). In the last section the authors apply their methodology to obtain estimates and existence results for deformed diagonal equations: \[c_1X_1^m+\ldots+c_nX_n^m=g,\quad c_i\in \mathbb{F}_q, c_i\neq 0, \deg g<m,\] generalized Markoff-Hurwitz-type equations: \[(a_1X_1^{m_1}+\cdots+a_nX_n^{m_n})^k=bX_1^{k_1}\ldots X_n^{k_k}, \quad a_i\in \mathbb{F}_q\setminus \{0\},\] and Carlitz's equations: \[h_1(X_1)+\ldots+h_n(X_n)=g,\quad g\in \mathbb{F}_q[X_1,\ldots,X_n], \deg h_i =d, \deg g<d.\] The obtained estimates are of the form \(q^{n-1}+\mathcal{O}(q^{n/2}).\)