The finite-field Bateman–Horn conjecture for one polynomial

Let f(x)Fq[t][x]f(x)\in\mathbb{F}_q[t][x] be a nonconstant irreducible separable polynomial that is monic in xx. Assume

aFq[t]/(P):f(a)=0<qdeg(P)\left|\\{a\in\mathbb{F}_q[t]/(P):f(a)=0\\}\right|<q^{\deg(P)}

for every monic irreducible PFq[t]P\in\mathbb{F}_q[t]. Define

Cq(f):=P1P1αFq[t]/(P):f(α)0(modP)1P1,C_q(f):=\prod_P\frac{1-|P|^{-1}\left|\\{\alpha\in\mathbb{F}_q[t]/(P):f(\alpha)\equiv0\pmod P\\}\right|}{1-|P|^{-1}},

where P=qdegtP|P|=q^{\deg_t P}.

Finite-field Bateman–Horn conjecture. As XX\to\infty through powers of qq,

gFq[t]:g=X,g monic,f(g)P(Fq[t])Cq(f)degx(f)XlogqX.\left|\\{g\in\mathbb{F}_q[t]:|g|=X,\\ g\text{ monic},\\ f(g)\in\mathcal P(\mathbb{F}_q[t])\\}\right|\approx\frac{C_q(f)}{\deg_x(f)}\frac{X}{\log_q X}.

This is the one-polynomial function-field analogue of Bateman–Horn, previously stated in the works cited by the source. Its general validity remains conjectural; separability is essential in the formulation.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Luca Demangos, Ignazio Longhi and Francesco Maria Saettone, “Procounting measures and the Bateman–Horn conjecture”, arXiv:2606.29250 (2026).

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