Permutation polynomials of Abelian group rings over finite fields (Q2366050)

If \(F\) is a finite field and \(G\) a finite Abelian group, let \(R=F[G]\) denote the group algebra of \(F\) over \(G\). A compositional attractor of a polynomial ring \(P\) is an ideal \(I\) with the additional property that for \(f(x)\in I\) and \(g(x)\in P\), \(f(g(x))\in I\). In [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 81, 1-9 (1992; Zbl 0773.11072)], the author studied compositional attractors showing that each \(F\)-algebra \(R\) has associated with it a compositional attractor which is the kernel of the evaluation map from \(F[x]\) to the ring of functions from \(R\) to itself. The main result of the present paper is an enumeration of polynomials of \(F[x]\) that permute \(R\) under substitution. The methods of this paper provide a tool for the enumeration of permutation polynomials of an \(F\)- algebra with coefficients in \(F\). For example as a special case, one obtains the number of scalar permutation polynomials for the algebra \(F^{n\times n}\) of all \(n\times n\) matrices over \(F\) enumerated by \textit{J. Brawley} in [J. Comb. Theor., Ser. A 21, 147-154 (1976; Zbl 0337.12016)].