Primitive Normal Bases with Prescribed Trace

Abstract.

Let E be a finite degree extension over a finite field F = GF(q), G the Galois group of E over F and let a∈F be nonzero. We prove the existence of an element w in E satisfying the following conditions:

- w is primitive in E, i.e., w generates the multiplicative group of E (as a module over the ring of integers).

- the set {w ^g∣g∈G} of conjugates of w under G forms a normal basis of E over F.

- the (E, F)-trace of w is equal to a.

This result is a strengthening of the primitive normal basis theorem of Lenstra and Schoof [10] and the theorem of Cohen on primitive elements with prescribed trace [3]. It establishes a recent conjecture of Morgan and Mullen [14], who, by means of a computer search, have verified the existence of such elements for the cases in which q≤ 97 and n≤ 6, n being the degree of E over F. Apart from two pairs (F, E) (or (q, n)) we are able to settle the conjecture purely theoretically.