On the diophantine equation \(x^2+D=4y^q\) (Q2545893)

Let \(D\) denote a positive, rational integer \(\equiv 3\pmod 4\), 'without any square factor \(>1\). Let further \(q\) be any odd prime and \(h\) the number of classes of ideals in the algebraic number field \(\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-D})\). It is the purpose of this paper to examine the solvability in positive, rational integers \(x,y\) and primes \(q\) of the diophantine equation (1) \(x^2 + D=4y^q\) for given values of \(D\). Putting \(x= 2z +1\), (1) can be written (2) \(z^2 + z + \tfrac14 (D+ 1) =y^q\). When both \(D\) and \(q\) are given and besides \((h, q) =1\) then it was proved by \textit{B. Persson} [Ark. Mat. 1, 45--57 (1949; Zbl 0034.17003)] that the integral solutions \(y\) of (2) are less than the number \(\tfrac14 D \operatorname{cosec}^2 \frac{\pi}{q}+1\). Assuming the same conditions \textit{B. Stolt} [Arch. Math, 8 393--400 (1958; Zbl 0079.27101)] proved that-there is at most one solution, except in the case \(D\equiv 3\pmod 8\) and \(q\equiv 1\pmod 6\), when there are at most three solutions. In this paper the author proves: In the following three cases the equation (1) has only a finite number of solutions in positive integers \(x\) and \(y\) and odd primes \(q\), provided \((h,q) =1\): (i) \(D\equiv 7\pmod{24},\quad q\equiv 3\pmod 8\); (ii) \(D\equiv 7\pmod{24},\quad q\equiv 5\pmod 8\) and \(D -4=3^{2n+1}D_3\), \((D_3,3) =1\); (iii) \(D\equiv 15\pmod{24}\). If there are solutions these can be effectively found. In the proof use is made of various polynomial identities and a result due to \textit{J. W. S. Cassels} [Ark. Mat. 4, 231--233 (1961; Zbl 0102.03507)] on an effective method for solving certain binary quadratic diophantine equations. An interesting example is the equation \(x^2 + 7 = 4y^q\), which has no solutions if \(q\not\equiv 17, 23\pmod{24}\), with the exception of \(q=3,5\) and \(7\), where \(y=2\) is the only solution. (See also the following review Zbl 0216.04101.)