On the Skolem Problem and Prime Powers

Abstract

The Skolem Problem asks, given a linear recurrence sequence $(u_n)$, whether there exists $n\in\mathbb{N}$ such that $u_n=0$. In this paper we consider the following specialisation of the problem: given in addition $c\in\mathbb{N}$, determine whether there exists $n\in\mathbb{N}$ of the form $n=lp^k$, with $k,l\leq c$ and $p$ any prime number, such that $u_n=0$.