Lectures On Finite Fields

This is a textbook for graduate and upper level undergraduate students in mathematics, computer science, communication engineering and other fields. The explicit construction of finite fields and the computation in finite fields are emphasised. In particular, the construction of irreducible polynomials and the normal basis of finite fields are included. The essentials of Galois rings are also presented. This invaluable book has been written in a friendly style, so that lecturers can easily use it as a text and students can use it for self-study. A great number of exercises have been incorporated.

The theory of finite fields encompasses algebra, combinatorics, and number theory and has furnished widespread applications in other areas of mathematics and computer science. This book is a collection of selected topics in the theory of finite fields and related areas. The topics include basic facts about finite fields, polynomials over finite fields, Gauss sums, algebraic number theory and cyclotomic fields, zeros of polynomials over finite fields, and classical groups over finite fields. The book is mostly self-contained, and the material covered is accessible to readers with the knowledge of graduate algebra; the only exception is a section on function fields. Each chapter is supplied with a set of exercises. The book can be adopted as a text for a second year graduate course or used as a reference by researchers.

The theory of finite fields encompasses algebra, combinatorics, and number theory and has furnished widespread applications in other areas of mathematics and computer science. This book is a collection of selected topics in the theory of finite fields and related areas. The topics include basic facts about finite fields, polynomials over finite fields, Gauss sums, algebraic number theory and cyclotomic fields, zeros of polynomials over finite fields, and classical groups over finite fields. The book is mostly self-contained, and the material covered is accessible to readers with the knowledge.

A large portion of the book can be used as a textbook for graduate and upper level undergraduate students in mathematics, communication engineering, computer science and other fields. The remaining part can be used as references for specialists. Explicit construction and computation of finite fields are emphasized. In particular, the construction of irreducible polynomials and normal basis of finite field is included. A detailed treatment of optimal normal basis and Galoi's rings is included. It is the first time that the galois rings are in book form. Errata(s) Errata

Capturing Adriano Garsia's unique perspective on essential topics in algebraic combinatorics, this book consists of selected, classic notes on a number of topics based on lectures held at the University of California, San Diego over the past few decades. The topics presented share a common theme of describing interesting interplays between algebraic topics such as representation theory and elegant structures which are sometimes thought of as being outside the purview of classical combinatorics. The lectures reflect Garsia’s inimitable narrative style and his exceptional expository ability. The preface presents the historical viewpoint as well as Garsia's personal insights into the subject matter. The lectures then start with a clear treatment of Alfred Young's construction of the irreducible representations of the symmetric group, seminormal representations and Morphy elements. This is followed by an elegant application of SL(2) representations to algebraic combinatorics. The last two lectures are on heaps, continued fractions and orthogonal polynomials with applications, and finally there is an exposition on the theory of finite fields. The book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in the field.

This book uses finite field theory as a hook to introduce the reader to a range of ideas from algebra and number theory. It constructs all finite fields from scratch and shows that they are unique up to isomorphism. As a payoff, several combinatorial applications of finite fields are given: Sidon sets and perfect difference sets, de Bruijn sequences and a magic trick of Persi Diaconis, and the polynomial time algorithm for primality testing due to Agrawal, Kayal and Saxena. The book forms the basis for a one term intensive course with students meeting weekly for multiple lectures and a discussion session. Readers can expect to develop familiarity with ideas in algebra (groups, rings and fields), and elementary number theory, which would help with later classes where these are developed in greater detail. And they will enjoy seeing the AKS primality test application tying together the many disparate topics from the book. The pre-requisites for reading this book are minimal: familiarity with proof writing, some linear algebra, and one variable calculus is assumed. This book is aimed at incoming undergraduate students with a strong interest in mathematics or computer science.