The Fourth International Conference on "Finite Fields: Theory, Applications, and Algorithms" was held at the University of Waterloo in August 1997. This volume presents the refereed proceedings. The conference drew workers in theoretical, applied, and algorithmic finite field theory. All papers were refereed. They are loosely classified as theoretical and applied and are listed under these general headings. The work contains up-to-date results from leading experts in the field.

This volume presents an exhaustive treatment of computation and algorithms for finite fields. Topics covered include polynomial factorization, finding irreducible and primitive polynomials, distribution of these primitive polynomials and of primitive points on elliptic curves, constructing bases of various types, and new applications of finite fields to other araes of mathematics. For completeness, also included are two special chapters on some recent advances and applications of the theory of congruences (optimal coefficients, congruential pseudo-random number generators, modular arithmetic etc.), and computational number theory (primality testing, factoring integers, computing in algebraic number theory, etc.) The problems considered here have many applications in computer science, coding theory, cryptography, number theory and discrete mathematics. The level of discussion presuppose only a knowledge of the basic facts on finite fields, and the book can be recommended as supplementary graduate text. For researchers and students interested in computational and algorithmic problems in finite fields.

The volume covers wide-ranging topics from Theory: structure of finite fields, normal bases, polynomials, function fields, APN functions. Computation: algorithms and complexity, polynomial factorization, decomposition and irreducibility testing, sequences and functions. Applications: algebraic coding theory, cryptography, algebraic geometry over finite fields, finite incidence geometry, designs, combinatorics, quantum information science.

The Ontario conference drew workers from theoretical, applied, and algorithm finite field theory to share their recent findings applying finite fields to such areas as number theory, algebra, and algebraic geometry. The 21 topics include actions of linearized polynomials on the algebraic closure of a finite field, kernels and defaults, computing zeta functions over finite fields, and the state complexity of some long codes. No index. Member prices are $39 for institutions and $29 for individuals. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Finite fields Combinatorics Algebraic coding theory Cryptography Background in number theory and abstract algebra Hints for selected exercises References Index.

The theory of finite fields, whose origins can be traced back to the works of Gauss and Galois, has played a part in various branches in mathematics. Inrecent years we have witnessed a resurgence of interest in finite fields, and this is partly due to important applications in coding theory and cryptography. The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader to some of these recent developments. It should be of interest to a wide range of students, researchers and practitioners in the disciplines of computer science, engineering and mathematics. We shall focus our attention on some specific recent developments in the theory and applications of finite fields. While the topics selected are treated in some depth, we have not attempted to be encyclopedic. Among the topics studied are different methods of representing the elements of a finite field (including normal bases and optimal normal bases), algorithms for factoring polynomials over finite fields, methods for constructing irreducible polynomials, the discrete logarithm problem and its implications to cryptography, the use of elliptic curves in constructing public key cryptosystems, and the uses of algebraic geometry in constructing good error-correcting codes. To limit the size of the volume we have been forced to omit some important applications of finite fields. Some of these missing applications are briefly mentioned in the Appendix along with some key references.

This book is devoted entirely to the theory of finite fields.