Primitive elements with zero traces (Q5927542)

Let \(F_q\) be the finite field of order \(q\), \(n\geq 2\) and \(a\) be an arbitrary element of \(F_q\). The second author showed in [\textit{S. D. Cohen} Discrete Math. 83, No. 1, 1-7 (1990; Zbl 0711.11048)] that in the extension field \(F_{q^n}\) there exists a primitive element with trace \(a\), except for the cases \(n=2\) and \((n,q)=(3,4)\) when \(a=0\). In the paper under review, this result is sharpened for \(a=0\) in the following way. For \(n\geq 5\) there exists a primitive element \(\xi\) of \(F_{q^n}\) such that the traces of \(\xi\) and \(\xi^{-1}\) are both zero, except when \((n,q)=(5,4)\) or \(n=6\) and \(q=2\) or \(3\). (For \(n<5\) such a primitive element cannot exist.) Equivalently, there exists a primitive polynomial of degree \(n\) over \(F_q\) where the coefficients of \(x^{n-1}\) and \(x\) are both zero with the same exceptions. The method employs generalized Kloosterman sums and a sieving technique. In [\textit{S. D. Cohen}, Acta Arith. 94, No. 2, 173-201 (2000; Zbl 0961.11042] the second author deals with the cases in which the traces of \(\xi\) and \(\xi^{-1}\) are not both zero.