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Consecutive non-square non-primitive pairs in a finite field

Number Theory 2026-04-24 v1

Abstract

Let qq be an odd prime power and write θq:=ϕ(q1)q1. \theta_q := \frac{\phi(q-1)}{q-1}. If θq<13\theta_q < \tfrac{1}{3}, or if θq=13\theta_q = \tfrac{1}{3} and q{7,13,19,25,37}q \notin \{7,13,19,25,37\}, then the finite field \F\F contains a pair of consecutive elements that are both non-square and non-primitive. This extends a result of Jarso and Trudgian for prime fields \Fp\Fp, where the same conclusion was obtained under the stronger condition θp14\theta_p \le \tfrac{1}{4}. More generally, let \ell be the least odd prime divisor of q1q-1. If θq13\theta_q \le \tfrac{1}{3}, then \F\F contains a pair of consecutive elements that are non-squares and \ellth powers, with the sole exceptions q{7,13,19,25,37,43}q \in \{7,13,19,25,37,43\}.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.21429,
  title  = {Consecutive non-square non-primitive pairs in a finite field},
  author = {Stephen D. Cohen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.21429},
  year   = {2026}
}

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13 pages