Least primitive root and simultaneous power non-residues (Q2315985)

Let \(g(p)\) denote the least primitive root modulo a prime \(p\). It is demonstrated here that for every \(\varepsilon \geq 0\) we have the bound \(g(p)\ll p^{\frac{1}{4\sqrt e}+\varepsilon}\), valid for a certain subclass of sufficiently large primes for which \(p-1\) does not have a small odd factor. The proof uses a Vinogradov's bound on the smallest \(d\)-th power non-residue modulo \(p\), where \(d\mid p-1\), in order to construct a simultaneous (with respect to all prime factors of \(p-1\)) power non-residue whose size can be kept small under a couple other conditions involving the Jacobsthal function. The constructive proof allows the conclusion that the said bound for \(g(p)\) asymptotically holds among the primes up to \(x\) with a positive density.