A new condition for \(k\)-Wall-Sun-Sun primes (Q6145753)

Let \(k\ge 1\) be an integer and let \(\{U_n\}_{n\ge 0}\) be the Lucas sequence of the first kind given by \(U_0=0,~U_1=1,~U_{n+2}=kU_{n+1}+U_n\) for all \(n\ge 0\). It is well-known that \(\{U_n\}_{n\ge 0}\) is purely periodic modulo any positive integer \(m\). Let \(\pi(m)\) be the period of the above sequence modulo \(m\). Call a prime \(p\) a Wall-Sun-Sun prime if \(\pi(p)=\pi(p^2)\). In the paper under review the author gives a necessary and sufficient condition for \(p\) to be a \(k\)-Wall-Sun-Sun prime in terms of the monogeneity of the polynomial \(f(X)=X^{2p}-kX^p-1\). Namely, under the assumption that \(k\not\equiv 0\pmod 4\) and \((k^2+4)/\gcd(k,2)^2\) is squarefree, then \(p\) is a \(k\)-Wall-Sun-Sun prime if and only if \(f(X)\) is non-monogenic. If in addition \(p\) is a divisor of \(k^2+4\), then \(f(X)\) is monogenic. The proofs use well-known facts from algebraic number theory such as Capelli's theorem concerning the irreducibility of the composition of two polynomials as well as the formula for the discriminant of a trinomial.