Third Power of the Reversed Dickson Polynomial over Finite Fields

Abstract

Let $D_n(1,x)$ be the $n$th reversed Dickson polynomial. The power sums $\sum_{a\in\Bbb F_q}D_n(1,a)^i$, $i=1,2$, have been determined recently. In this paper we give an evaluation of the sum $\sum_{a\in\Bbb F_q}D_n(1,a)^3$. This result implies new necessary conditions for $D_n(1,x)$ to be a permutation polynomial over $\Bbb F_q$.