The Skolem conjecture for simple rational linear recurrence binary sequences

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Let u=(un)n∈Z\boldsymbol{u}=(u_n)_{n\in\mathbb{Z}} be a simple rational LRBS, meaning a simple rational linear recurrence binary sequence, taking values in Z[1/b]\mathbb{Z}[1/b] for some integer bb. An integer zero is an index n∈Zn\in\mathbb{Z} such that un=0u_n=0, and gcd⁡(b,m)=1\gcd(b,m)=1 means that bb and mm are coprime. The Skolem conjecture. The sequence u\boldsymbol{u} has no integer zero if and only if there exists an integer m≥2m\geq 2 with gcd⁡(b,m)=1\gcd(b,m)=1 such that

un≢0(modm)u_n\not\equiv 0\pmod m

for every n∈Zn\in\mathbb{Z}. This is also called the Exponential Local-Global Principle and gives a modular certificate for the absence of integer zeros. The supplied source does not provide evidence resolving the conjecture.

References

Primary source

Piotr Bacik, Joël Ouaknine, David Purser and James Worrell, “On the p-adic Skolem Problem”, arXiv:2504.14413 (2026).

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