Monday, 4 July 2016

number theory - Prove that there are infinitely many primes which are primitive roots modulo N


Assuming N has a primitive root, show that there are infinitely many primes which are primitive roots modulo N.





It is obviously true using Dirichlet's theorem on primes, but I want to prove without this. There is a given hint:




Try to mimic the proof of that there are infinitely many primes of the form 3n1, 4n+3 or 5n±2.




This proof basically is as follows:




  • If N=q1qs is, say, congruent to 3 modulo 4, then one of qi should be congruent to 3 modulo 4.


  • List all such primes p1,,pr, and let N=αp1pr+C for some α and C so that N cannot be divided by any of pi but it must has a prime factor of the given form, leading to a contradiction.



I tried to, but failed to show both steps:




  • Can I derive that if M=q1qs is a primitive root modulo N then one of qi is also a primitive root modulo N?


    • Counterexample by Robert: 2 and 6 are not primitive roots mod 7, but 26=12 is.


    • What if qi's are primes?


      • Counterexample by Annyeong: 52=2\cdot 2\cdot 13\equiv 3 \pmod 7 is a primitive root but 2 and 13\equiv 6 are not modulo 7.


    • Any other method to get the similar proof? I think N should be sort of a polynomial of p_1\cdots p_r, as in the proof for 2kp+1-primes


  • How to choose \alpha and C above?

  • We cannot prove that there are infinitely many primes congruent to a specific primitive root in this way, by Murty. (See the comment below by Vincent.)




Any helps and hints are welcome!



Update: Professor has retracted this problem from the homework.

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