Factoring polynomials over \(\mathbb Z_4\) and over certain Galois rings (Q2567153)

Beginning with an irreducibility criterion for polynomials over a Galois ring, this paper restricts to Galois rings of characteristic \(p^2\) (\(p\) prime). The paper fully describes factorisations of the primary polynomials in this case, giving also an algorithm. An interesting connection between the factorisation of a polynomial \(f\) and \(\text{GR}(p^2,\gamma)[x]//(f)\) being a principal ideal ring has also been noted. As an application, the results of the paper have been applied to factoring \(x^n-1\) and \(x^n+1\) over Galois rings of characteristic \(p^2\) (including \(\mathbb{Z}_4\) as an important special case).