The number of matrices over $\mathbb{F}_q$ with irreducible characteristic polynomial

Abstract

Let $\mathbb{F}_q$ be a finite field with $q$ elements. M. Gerstenhaber and Irving Reiner has given two different methods to show the number of matrices with a given characteristic polynomial. In this talk, we will give another proof for the particular case where the characteristic polynomial is irreducible. The number of such matrices is important to know the efficiency of an algorithm to factor polynomials using Drinfeld modules.