The Skolem conjecture for simple rational linear recurrence binary sequences

Let u=(un)nZ\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 nZn\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 m2m\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 nZn\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.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

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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