English

On the factorization of iterates of $x^d+c$ in large degree

Number Theory 2025-08-11 v1 Dynamical Systems

Abstract

Let KK be a function field of a curve in characteristic zero or a number field over which the abcabc-conjecture holds, fix αK\alpha\in K, and let fd,c(x)=xd+cf_{d,c}(x)=x^d+c for some d2d\geq2 and some cKc\in K. Then for many cc and dd, we prove that fd,cn(x)αf_{d,c}^n(x)-\alpha has at most dd factors in K[x]K[x] for all n1n\geq1. For example, when α=0\alpha=0 we prove that the set {d:fd,cn(x)  has at most d factors in K[x] for all n1 and all h(c)>0}\Big\{d\,:\, f_{d,c}^n(x)\;\text{has at most $d$ factors in $K[x]$ for all $n\geq1$ and all $h(c)>0$}\Big\} has positive asymptotic density. We then apply this result to compute the density of prime divisors in certain forward orbits and to establish the finiteness of integral points in certain backward orbits.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.05795,
  title  = {On the factorization of iterates of $x^d+c$ in large degree},
  author = {Wade Hindes},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.05795},
  year   = {2025}
}