Degree matrices and divisibility of exponential sums over finite fields

摘要

By using the degree matrix, we provide an elementary and algorithmic approach to estimating the divisibility of exponential sums over prime fields, which improves the Adolphson–Sperber theorem obtained by using the Newton polyhedron. Our result also improves the Ax–Katz theorem on estimating the number of rational points on hypersurfaces over prime fields.