Uniqueness of the distribution of zeroes of primitive level sequences over \(\mathbb Z/(p^e)\) (Q2567151)

Let \(G(f(x),p^e)\) be the set of all linear recurring sequences over \(\mathbb{Z}/(p^e)\) (with \(p\) prime) which are generated by the polynomial \(f(x)\). For a sequence \(\underline{a}\in G(f(x),p^e)\), let \(\underline{a}=\underline{a}_0+p\cdot\underline{a}_1+\ldots+p^{e-1}\cdot\underline{a}_{e-1}\) be its unique \(p\)-adic decomposition with sequences \(\underline{a}_i\) over \(\mathbb{Z}/(p)\). In case of primitive \(f(x)\), all information about the sequence \(\underline{a}\) is already contained in the highest level sequence \(\underline{a}_{e-1}\), that is, for \(\underline{a},\underline{b}\in G(f(x),p^e)\), we have \(\underline{a}=\underline{b}\) if and only if \(\underline{a}_{e-1}=\underline{b}_{e-1}\). The authors consider now the uniqueness of \(\underline{a}_{e-1}\) in terms of the distribution of its zeros. They prove that for any primitive \(f\in\mathbb{Z}/(p^e)[x]\) with \(p\geq 5\) and \(e\geq2\), the sequences \(\underline{a},\underline{b}\in G(f(x),p^e)\), \(\underline{a}\not=\underline{0}\) are equal, if \(a_{e-1}(t)=0\) if and only if \(b_{e-1}(t)=0\) for all \(t\geq0\). As a consequence, the equivalence of \(\underline{a}=\underline{b}\) and \(\underline{a}_{e-1}^k=\underline{b}_{e-1}^k\) for some integer \(k\geq 0\) is obtained.