Families of Laguerre polynomials with alternating group as Galois group (Q2167505)

For an arbitrary real number \(\alpha\) and a positive integer \(n\), the Generalized Laguerre Polynomials (GLP) are the family of polynomials given by \[ L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)=(-1)^n\sum_{j=0}^{n} \frac{(n+\alpha)(n-1+\alpha)\cdots (j+1+\alpha)}{(n-j)!j!} (-x)^j. \] \textit{P. Banerjee} et al. [J. Théor. Nombres Bordx. 25, No. 1, 1--30 (2013; Zbl 1287.11128)] described the set of integer pairs \((n,\alpha)\) for which the discriminant of \(L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)\) is a square as \({\mathcal A}_0\cup {\mathcal A}_{\infty}\), where \({\mathcal A}_0\) is a finite set and \({\mathcal A}_{\infty}\) is an explicitly given infinite set. Later \textit{P. Banerjee} [Acta Arith. 183, No. 1, 1--34 (2018; Zbl 1404.11127)] conjectured that for \(\alpha\ne -1\), the only pair \((n,\alpha)\in {\mathcal A}_{\infty}\) for which the Galois group of \(L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)\) is not \(A_n\) is \((4,23)\). In the paper under review the authors verify the above conjecture for \(\alpha\in \{-2n,-2n-2,-2n-4\}\) and in fact prove more general results about the irreducibility and Galois groups of \(L_n^{(\alpha)}\) for positive integers \(n\) and integer \(\alpha\in [-2n- 4,-2n]\). The paper uses an assortment of results from Diophantine equations and distribution of prime numbers. For example, the proofs use a joint result of the reviewer with \textit{F. Najman} [Math. Comput. 80, No. 273, 429--435 (2011; Zbl 1221.11080)] concerning all positive integers \(x\) such that \(P(x^2-1)\le 100\), where \(P(m)\) is the largest prime factor of \(m\), a result of \textit{M. A. Bennett} et al. [J. Reine Angew. Math. 629, 171--200 (2009; Zbl 1223.11040)] on close values of \(p^{\ell_1}x_1,~p_2^{\ell_2} x_2\), where \(p_1,p_2\) are distinct small primes (up to \(13\)) and \(x_1,x_2\) are ``small'' compared to \(p_1^{\ell_1},~p_2^{\ell_2}\), as well as a result of \textit{S. G. Nair} and \textit{T. N. Shorey} [J. Number Theory 159, 307--328 (2016; Zbl 1400.11016)] concerning \(P(x(x-1)\cdots (x-k+1))\) for integer \(k\ge 2\) and integer \(x\ge 5k\).