Index divisibility in dynamical sequences and cyclic orbits modulo \(p\) (Q2407256)

Let \(\phi(x)=x^d+c\) be a polynomial of degree at least 2, defined over the integers. This paper is concerned with integers \(n\) (and particularly primes) for which \(n\mid\phi^n(0)\). When \(d\) is even it is shown that the only such primes are those which divide \(2c\); and it is conjectured that for \(d\) odd there are infinitely many such primes. In particular it is shown that \(p\mid\phi^p(0)\) if \(p-1\mid d-1\). A number of similar results are established, and numerical evidence relating to the conjecture is given. The proofs are elementary.