Sums of seventh powers in the polynomial ring \(\mathbb{F}_{2^{m}}[T]\) (Q719803)

Let \(\mathbb F\) be a finite field with even characteristic and \(q\geq 16\) elements. The author studies representations of polynomials \(P\in \mathbb F[T]\) as sums \(P = X_{1}^{7} +\cdots + X_{s}^{7}\). In this article improved bounds for the numbers \(g(2^m,7)\) in the case when \(m\neq \{1,2,3\}\) and also for some numbers \(G(2^m,7)\) are given. Theorem 1.1. (i) If \(q\not\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(q\geq 16\), then \(G(q,7)\leq 21\). (ii) if \(q\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(q\geq 14^{16}\), then \(G(q,7)\leq 22\). (iii) if \(q\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(512\leq q< 14^{16}\), then \(G(q,7)\leq 27\). (iv) if \(q=64\), then \(G(q,7)\leq 31\). Theorem 1.2. (i) If \(q\not\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(q\equiv 1\pmod 3\), then \(g(q,7)\leq 42\). (ii) if \(q\not\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(q\not\equiv 1\pmod 3\), then \(g(q,7)\leq 46\). (iii) if \(q\equiv 1\pmod {21}\) and \(q\neq 64\), then \(g(q,7)\leq 57\). (iv) if \(q\equiv 1\pmod 7\) and \(q\not\equiv 1\pmod 3\), then \(g(q,7)\leq 59\). (iv) \(g(64,7)\leq 74\). A descent method is used described in the author's article [Contemp. Math. 461, 59--77 (2008; Zbl 1220.11149)] and \textit{L. Gallardo} and \textit{L. N. Vaserstein} [J. Number Theory 128, No. 12, 2963--2972 (2008; Zbl 1220.11151)].