On Linnik's approximation to Goldbach's problem. II (Q2220977)

\textit{Yu. V. Linnik} [Tr. Mat. Inst. Steklova 38, 152--169 (1951; Zbl 0049.31402)] proved the existence of a constant \(K\) such that every sufficiently large even number is the sum of two primes and at most \(K\) powers of 2. \textit{D. R. Heath-Brown} and \textit{J. C. Puchta} [Asian J. Math. 6, No. 3, 535--566 (2002; Zbl 1097.11050)] found that \(K = 13\) works. This was improved to \(K=8\) by \textit{J. Pintz} and \textit{I. Z. Ruzsa} [Acta Arith. 109, No. 2, 169--194 (2003; Zbl 1031.11060)]. In the present work they show that \(K = 8\) powers of 2 suffices without supposing any unproved hypothesis.