Polynomials with minimal value set over Galois rings (Q1178784)

For \(p\) a prime and positive integers \(m\) and \(n\) let \(\mathrm{GR}(p^n,m)\) denote the Galois ring of order \(p^{mn}\) which can be obtained as a degree \(m\) Galois extension of the ring \(\mathbb{Z}/(p^n)\) of integers \(\bmod p^n\). As special cases \(\mathrm{GR}(p^n,1)=\mathbb{Z}/(p^n)\) and \(\mathrm{GR}(p,m)=\mathrm{GF}(p^m)\), the finite field of order \(p^m\). Let \(V(f)=\{f(a)\mid a\in \mathrm{GF}(q)\}\) denote the value set of \(f\) over \(\mathrm{GF}(q)\) so that if \(f\) has degree \(d\), then \([(q-1)/d]+1\leq |V(f)|\). If equality is achieved then \(f\) is said to be a minimal value set polynomial. In [\textit{L. Carlitz}, \textit{D. J. Lewis}, \textit{W. H. Mills} and \textit{E. G. Straus}, Mathematika 8, 121--130 (1961; Zbl 0106.01105)] and [\textit{W. H. Mills}, Pac. J. Math. 14, 225--241 (1964; Zbl 0126.03004)] it is shown that if \(f\) has degree \(d\) over \(\mathrm{GF}(q)\), \(|V(f)| \geq 3\), \(2 < d < p\) where \(p\) is the characteristic of \(\mathrm{GF}(q)\), and \(f\) is a minimal value set polynomial, then \(f(x)=a(x-b)^d+c\), \(a\neq 0\). In this paper an analogous result is obtained for minimal value set polynomials over \(\mathrm{GR}(p^n,m)\).