Is there an infinite Carmichael numbers of this form $K.p^n+1$

elementary-number-theorynumber theoryprime numberspseudoprimes

Carmichael numbers are these numbers that passes fermat test for any base from $1$ to $N-1$

EX : $a^{561} \equiv a \pmod {561} $ where $ 1 \le a \le 560 $

These numbers are infinite, and I have found many numbers of this form $K.p^n+1$ where $K \lt p^n$ and $p$ is prime, such as $(1729,46657,63973,101101,126217,278545,449065)$

But I was wondering if there are an infinitely many
Carmichael numbers of this form $K.p^n+1$ or not ?

Note: $n=1$ is allowed

Best Answer

It is very likely there are infinitely many such Carmichael numbers. Consider the four polynomials: $$\begin{array}{lcl} P_1(x) & = & 6x+1 \\ P_2(x) & = & 12x+1 \\ P_3(x) & = & 18x+1 \\ P_4(x) & = & 36x^2 + 11x+1 \end{array}$$

All four polynomials have positive leading coefficient, are irreducible over integers and each of them attains at least two different prime values. Furthermore, for any prime $p$, the values of the polynomials at $x=p$ are not divisible by $p$. This implies these four polynomials satisfy the conditions of Generalized Bunyakovsky conjecture and thus there should be infinitely many values of $x$ for which all of them attain prime values simultaneously.

For each such $x$, Korselt's criterion tells us that the product $$M=P_1(x)P_2(x)P_3(x)=1296x^3+396x^2+36x+1=36xP_4(x)+1$$ is a Carmichael number. At the same time, $36x<P_4(x)$ for positive integers $x$ so the number $M$ is also of the form $Kp^1+1$ for prime $p=P_4(x)$ and $K<p$.

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