Polynomials defining many units (Q303819)

Let \(\mathbb{Z}G\) be the integral group ring, \(f(X)\in \mathbb{Z}[X]\). In [J. Group Theory 8, No. 6, 777--799 (2005; Zbl 1087.16018)], \textit{Z. Marciniak} and \textit{S. K. Sehgal} studied monic shifted cyclotomic polynomials \(f(X)\) with nonzero roots roots of unity defining a generic unit, i.e., for some \(D\in \mathbb{N}\), \(x_n\in G\), \(f(x_n)\in U(Z[G])\) for all natural \(n\) with \(\mathrm{gcd}(n,D)=1\) and \(x_n\) of order \(n\), in which case it is said that \(f(X)\) defines units of order \(n\). When \(a\) is an integer, \(x= X+(X^n-a)\), \(f(x)\in U(Z[X]/(X^n-a))\), the authors of the present paper say that the (possibly non-monic) polynomial \(f(x)\) defines units on \(n\)th roots of \(a\). The main result is as follows: \(f(X)\) defines units on \(n\)th roots of \(a\) for infinitely many \(n\) if and only if \(f(X)=\pm X^m\prod_{i=1}^k\Phi_{m_k}(X)\) with \(\Phi_l(X)\) the \(l\)th cyclotomic polynomial and either \(a=1\) and the \(m_i\) equal 1 or a prime power, or \(a=-1\) and the \(m_i\neq1,\,2,\) twice a prime power, or \(a=-2\), \(m=0\) and \(m_i=2^eh_i\) for some positive \(e\) and odd \(h_i\), or \(a=2\) and \(m=0\). Moreover, they establish that \(f(X)\) defines units on infinitely many orders \(n\) if and only if it defines generic units, and by using results of \textit{J. H. Evertse} [Invent. Math. 75, 561--584 (1984; Zbl 0521.10015)] on S-units from the theory of Diophantine equations, if \(f(X)\) defines units on \(n\)th roots of \(a\) for finitely many \(n\), it is possible to bound the number of such \(n\).