On a characterization of idempotent distributions on discrete fields and on the field of p-adic numbers

TL;DR

This paper characterizes idempotent distributions on discrete fields and the p-adic numbers by examining the independence of certain sums and differences of i.i.d. random variables, revealing a unique distribution property.

Contribution

It provides a new characterization of idempotent distributions on discrete fields and p-adic numbers through independence conditions of sums and squared differences.

Findings

Independence of S and D implies μ is idempotent on discrete fields.

Similar characterization holds for p-adic numbers with continuous density.

Results extend the understanding of distribution properties in algebraic structures.

Abstract

We prove the following theorem. Let $X$ be a discrete field, $\xi$ and $\eta$ be independent identically distributed random variables with values in $X$ and distribution $\mu$. The random variables $S=\xi+\eta$ and $D=(\xi-\eta)^2$ are independent if and only if $\mu$ is an idempotent distribution. A similar result is also proved in the case when $\xi$ and $\eta$ are independent identically distributed random variables with values in the field of $p$-adic numbers $\mathbf{Q}_p$, where $p>2$, assuming that the distribution $\mu$ has a continuous density.