Inverse conjecture for the Gowers norm

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Let pp be a prime and let k≥1k\geq 1. For a finite abelian group GG, define the Gowers uniformity norm by

∥f∥Uk+1(G)2k+1≔Ex,h1,…,hk+1∈G∏ω∈{0,1}k+1C∣ω∣f(x+ω⋅h⃗).\|f\|_{U^{k+1}(G)}^{2^{k+1}}\coloneqq \mathbb{E}_{x,h_1,\dots,h_{k+1}\in G}\prod_{\omega\in\{0,1\}^{k+1}}\mathcal{C}^{|\omega|}f(x+\omega\cdot\vec h).

Here C\mathcal{C} denotes complex conjugation, ω⋅h⃗=ω1h1+⋯+ωk+1hk+1\omega\cdot\vec h=\omega_1h_1+\cdots+\omega_{k+1}h_{k+1}, and e(θ)=e2πiθe(\theta)=e^{2\pi i\theta}. For G=FpnG=\mathbb{F}_p^n, let Polyk(G)\mathrm{Poly}^k(G) denote the group of non-classical polynomials P:G→TP:G\to\mathbb{T} of degree at most kk, and let D={z∈C:∣z∣≤1}{\mathbb D}=\{z\in\mathbb{C}:|z|\leq 1\}. Inverse conjecture for the Gowers norm. For every η>0\eta>0 there exists c=c(k,p,η)>0c=c(k,p,\eta)>0 such that, whenever f:G→Df:G\to{\mathbb D} satisfies ∥f∥Uk+1(G)≥η\|f\|_{U^{k+1}(G)}\geq\eta, there exists P∈Polyk(G)P\in\mathrm{Poly}^k(G) such that

∣Ex∈Gf(x)e(−P(x))∣≥c.\left|\mathbb{E}_{x\in G}f(x)e(-P(x))\right|\geq c.

This conjecture is stated in the source as established for all kk and pp, with earlier proofs in several ranges and subsequent alternate proofs; it is therefore a theorem rather than an open conjecture.

References

Primary source

Asgar Jamneshan, Or Shalom and Terence Tao, “A Host–Kra F_2^ω-system of order 5 that is not Abramov of order 5, and non-measurability of the inverse theorem for the U^6(F_2^n) norm”, arXiv:2303.04853 (2026).

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