Date of Award
12-1-2013
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
Fitzgerald, Robert
Abstract
In this paper we determine when there exists a matrix M in PGL2(F), and its form, such that L_k = D^M_k where D^M_k is a higher-order Dickson polynomial. We first examine the cases where M has projective orders 3, 4, and 6. For the order 3 case, we find that M has entries in, at worst, a quadratic extension of F. This is also true for the orders 4 and 6, but requires a restriction on the coefficients of h(x), the characteristic polynomial of L. In all cases, an explicit formula for M is given, and in the order 4 case the meaning of the extension is interpreted in terms of the Galois group of h. Lastly, we examine the case where F is finite, and offer a formula for M of order 5.
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