English

Improved estimates for polynomial Roth type theorems in finite fields

Number Theory 2017-10-03 v3

Abstract

We prove that, under certain conditions on the function pair φ1\varphi_1 and φ2\varphi_2, bilinear average p1yFpf1(x+φ1(y))f2(x+φ2(y))p^{-1}\sum_{y\in \mathbb{F}_p}f_1(x+\varphi_1(y)) f_2(x+\varphi_2(y)) along curve (φ1,φ2)(\varphi_1, \varphi_2) satisfies certain decay estimate. As a consequence, Roth type theorems hold in the setting of finite fields. In particular, if φ1,φ2Fp[X]\varphi_1,\varphi_2\in \mathbb{F}_p[X] with φ1(0)=φ2(0)=0\varphi_1(0)=\varphi_2(0)=0 are linearly independent polynomials, then for any AFp,A=δpA\subset \mathbb{F}_p, |A|=\delta p with δ>cp112\delta>c p^{-\frac{1}{12}}, there are δ3p2\gtrsim \delta^3p^2 triplets x,x+φ1(y),x+φ2(y)Ax,x+\varphi_1(y), x+\varphi_2(y)\in A. This extends a recent result of Bourgain and Chang who initiated this type of problems, and strengthens the bound in a result of Peluse, who generalized Bourgain and Chang's work. The proof uses discrete Fourier analysis and algebraic geometry.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1709.00080,
  title  = {Improved estimates for polynomial Roth type theorems in finite fields},
  author = {Dong Dong and Xiaochun Li and Will Sawin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1709.00080},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

The assumption "having distinct leading terms" is removed in the results and Peluse is acknowledged

R2 v1 2026-06-22T21:29:45.429Z