The distribution of irreducible polynomials in \(\mathbb{F}_q[t]\) (Q678400)

Let \({\mathcal P}\) be the monoid of all monic polynomials in \(\mathbb{F}_q [X]\), and let \(A\) and \(B\in{\mathcal P}\) have degrees \(a\) and \(b\) respectively. For \(l\geq 0\), we say that \(A\) and \(B\) have the same first \(l\) coefficients if the coefficients of the monomials \(X^{a-i}\) and \(X^{b-i}\) in \(A\) and \(B\) respectively are equal for \(i=0,\dots,l\). Given \(l\geq 0\) and \(Q\in P\), define a relation \(R_{l,Q}\) on \({\mathcal P}\) as follows: \(A\equiv B\pmod{R_{l,Q}}\) if and only if \(A\equiv B\pmod Q\) and \(A\) and \(B\) have the same first \(l\) coefficients. Let \(C\in P\) be prime to \(Q\). Let \(\pi_\nu (C;l,Q)\) be the number of monic irreducibles \(P\) of degree \(\nu\) such that \(P\equiv \pmod {R_{l,Q}}\). \textit{G. Rhin} [Diss. Math. (Rozprawy Mat.) 95 (1972; Zbl 0252.10036)], extending work of \textit{D. Hayes} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 117, 101-127 (1965; Zbl 0039.27502)], proved that \[ \pi_\nu(C;l,Q)= {q^{\nu-l}\over v\Phi(Q)}+ O\left({q^{\theta\nu} \over\nu} \right), \] as \(\nu\) tends to infinity, where \(\theta= 1/2\) and \(\Phi(Q)\) is the order of the group of units in \(\mathbb{F}_q[X]/Q \mathbb{F}_q[X]\). Hayes did not invoke the Riemann Hypothesis for \(L\)-series of function fields and consequently could only assert that the above asymptotic formula holds for some fixed value \(\theta\) satisfying \(1/2\geq \theta<1\), independent of \(\nu\). Hayes on his turn extended earlier results of E. Artin and Kornblum (the latter had his promising career cut short after he enlisted as Kriegsfreiwilliger in 1914). In the present paper the author sharpens the result of Rhin, using the ideas of Hayes and Rhin. Various applications are given. For example to making a polynomial irreducible by changing coefficients of lower degree terms: If \(q>((d+3)/2)^2\), then there exists monic irreducible \(P\in\mathbb{F}_q [X]\) such that \(\deg(P)=d\) and \(\deg(P-f) \leq d/2\). Other applications are to the existence of irreducibles of low degree in a given arithmetic progression in \(\mathbb{F}_q[X]\) and to the existence of irreducibles of low degree having a prescribed Artin symbol. \{See also the author's recent paper, Compos. Math. 106, 247-266 (1997; Zbl 0919.11044)\}.