Peterson's hit problem conjecture

Let PhP_h be the polynomial algebra on hh variables over Fp\mathbb F_p, equipped with the action of the Steenrod algebra Ap\mathscr A_p. For a positive integer nn, write its pp-adic expansion as n=j0αj(n)pjn=\sum_{j\geq 0}\alpha_j(n)p^j with 0αj(n)p10\leq\alpha_j(n)\leq p-1, and set α(n)=j0αj(n)\alpha(n)=\sum_{j\geq 0}\alpha_j(n). Peterson's conjecture. Every homogeneous polynomial of degree nn in hh variables is in the image of the Steenrod algebra if and only if α(n+h)>h\alpha(n+h)>h. Over F2\mathbb F_2 this conjecture was proved by Wood, and later for the symmetric algebras corresponding to classifying spaces of orthogonal groups by Janfada and Wood; however, it is not true for odd primes in general.

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Primary source

Dang Vo Phuc, “A note on the hit problem for the polynomial algebra in the case of odd primes and its application”, arXiv:2510.17908 (2025).

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