Infinitely many counterexamples to a conjecture of Norton (Q2225026)

Denote by \(\Gamma^*(k)\) the smallest number \(s\) such that every diagonal form \(a_1x_1^k+\ldots +a_sx_s^k\) in \(s\) variables with integer coefficients must have a nontrivial zero in every \(p\)-adic field \(\mathbb{Q}_p\). An old conjecture of \textit{K. K. Norton} [On homogeneous diagonal congruences of odd degree. Urbana: University of Illinois (PhD Thesis) (1966)] says \(\Gamma^*(k)\equiv 1\pmod k\) for all \(k\). Formerly only a single counterexample was known to this conjecture. In the present paper the authors produce infinitely many counterexamples. All these counterexamples are with even \(k\), no counterexamples are known with odd \(k\).