Sums of \((2^r + 1)\)-th powers in the polynomial ring \(\mathbb F_{2^m}[T]\) (Q2269737)

Extending work on strict decomposition of one variable polynomials over \(\mathbb{F}_2\) and \(\mathbb{F}_4\) of the reviewer and \textit{D. R. Heath-Brown} [Finite Fields Appl. 13, No. 4, 981--987 (2007; Zbl 1172.11045)], of the reviewer, and using his own work for more general \(k\)-th powers, the author obtains new results for the minimal number \(g(k)\) of \(k\)-th powers necessary to strictly represent polynomials in \(\mathbb{F}_q[t]\) not barred by congruences. Here \(k-1\) is any power of \(2\) and \(q\) is even. Strict representation of polynomials of sufficiently large degree are also considered. Put \(k-1 = 2^r\) and \(q = 2^m\). A typical result is If \(k>5\) and \(m/\gcd(m,r)\) is odd then \[ g(k) \leq 6k - 6. \]