A polynomial analogue of Jacobsthal function

Abstract

For a polynomial $f(x)\in \mathbb Z[x]$ we study an analogue of Jacobsthal function defined by $j_f(N) =\max_{m}\{for some x \in \mathbb N$ the inequality $(x+f(i),N) >1 $ holds for all $i \leqslant m\}$. We prove the lower bound $$ j_f(P(y))\gg y(\ln y)^{\ell_f-1}(\frac{(\ln\ln y)^2}{\ln\ln\ln y})^{h_f}(\frac{\ln y\ln\ln\ln y}{(\ln\ln y)^2})^{M(f)}, $$ where $P(y)$ is the product of all primes $p$ below $y$, $\ell_f$ is the number of distinct linear factors of $f(x)$, $h_f$ is the number of distinct non-linear irreducible factors and $M(f)$ is the average size of the maximal preimage of a point under a map $f\colon \mathbb F_p\to \mathbb F_p$. The quantity $M(f)$ is computed in terms of certain Galois groups.

Locations

• Izvestiya Mathematics - View - PDF
• arXiv (Cornell University) - View - PDF