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In other words, a(n), n >= 2, is the least k such that prime(n) divides 2^k-1.

Concerning the complexity of computing this sequence, see for example Bach and Shallit, p. 115, exercise 8.

Also A002326((p_n-1)/2). Conjecture: If p_n is not a Wieferich prime (1093, 3511, ...) then A002326(((p_n)^k-1)/2) = a(n)*(p_n)^(k-1). - Vladimir Shevelev, May 26 2008

If for distinct i,j,...,k we have a(i)=a(j)=...=a(k) then the number N = p_i*p_j*...*p_k is in A001262 and moreover A137576((N-1)/2) = N. For example, a(16)=a(37)=a(255)=52. Therefore we could take N = p_16*p_37*p_255 = 53*157*1613 = 13421773. - Vladimir Shevelev, Jun 14 2008

Also degree of the irreducible polynomial factors for the polynomial (x^p+1)/(x+1) over GF(2), where p is the n-th prime. - V. Raman, Oct 04 2012

Is this the same as the smallest k > 1 not already in the sequence such that p = prime(n) is a factor of 2^k-1 (A270600)? If the answer is yes, is the sequence a permutation of the positive integers > 1? - Felix Fröhlich, Feb 21 2016. Answer: No, it is easy to prove that 6 is missing and obviously 11 appears twice. - N. J. A. Sloane, Feb 21 2016

pi(A112927(m)) is the index at which a given number m first appears in this sequence. - M. F. Hasler, Feb 21 2016

Given that prime p has only one coach, the corresponding value of k in A003558 must be (p-1)/2, and vice versa. Using the Coach theorem of Jean Pedersen et al., phi(b) = 2 * c * k, with b odd. Let b = p, prime. Then phi(p) = (p-1), and k must be (p-1)/2 iff c = 1. Or, phi(p) = (p-1) = 2 * 1 * (p-1)/2.

Conjecture relating to odd integers: iff an integer is in the set A216371 and is either of the form 4q - 1 or 4q + 1, (q>0); then the top row of its coach (cf. A003558) is composed of a permutation of the first q odd integers. Examples: 11 is of the form 4q - 1, q = 3; with the top row of its coach [1, 5, 3]. 13 is of the form 4q + 1, q = 3; so has a coach of [1, 3, 5]. 37 is of the form 4q + 1, q = 9; so has a coach with the top row composed of a permutation of the first 9 odd integers: [1, 9, 7, 15, 11, 13, 3, 17, 5]. - Gary W. Adamson, Sep 08 2012

Odd primes p such that 2^m is not congruent to 1 or -1 (mod p) for 0 < m < (p-1)/2. - Charles R Greathouse IV, Sep 15 2012

These are also the odd primes a(n) for which there is only one periodic Schick sequence (see the reference, and also the Brändli and Beyne link, eq. (2) for the recurrence but using various inputs. See also a comment in A332439). This sequence has primitive period length (named pes in Schick's book) A003558((a(n)-1)/2) = A005034(a(n)) = A000010(a(n))/2 = (a(n) - 1)/2, for n >= 1. - Wolfdieter Lang, Apr 09 2020

From Jianing Song, Dec 24 2022: (Start)

Primes p such that the multiplicative order of 4 modulo p is (p-1)/2. Proof of equivalence: let ord(a,k) be the multiplicative of a modulo k.

If 2^m is not 1 or -1 (mod p) for 0 < m < (p-1)/2, then ord(2,p) is either p-1 or (p-1)/2. If ord(2,p) = p-1, then ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2. If ord(2,p) = (p-1)/2, then p == 3 (mod 4), otherwise 2^((p-1)/4) == -1 (mod p), so ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2.

Conversely, if ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2, then ord(2,p) = p-1, or ord(2,p) = (p-1)/2 and p == 3 (mod 4) (otherwise ord(4,p) = (p-1)/4). In the first case, (p-1)/2 is the smallest m > 0 such that 2^m == +-1 (mod p); in the second case, since (p-1)/2 is odd, 2^m == -1 (mod p) has no solution. In either case, so 2^m is not 1 or -1 (mod p) for 0 < m < (p-1)/2.

{(a(n)-1)/2} is the sequence of indices of fixed points of A053447.

A prime p is a term if and only if one of the two following conditions holds: (a) 2 is a primitive root modulo p; (b) p == 3 (mod 4), and the multiplicative order of 2 modulo p is (p-1)/2 (in this case, we have p == 7 (mod 8) since 2 is a quadratic residue modulo p). (End)

From Jianing Song, Aug 11 2023: (Start)

Primes p such that 2 or -2 (or both) is a primitive root modulo p. Proof of equivalence: if ord(2,p) = p-1, then clearly ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2. If ord(-2,p) = p-1, then we also have ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2. Conversely, suppose that ord(4,p) = (p-1)/2, then ord(2,p) = p-1 or (p-1)/2, and ord(-2,p) = p-1 or (p-1)/2. If ord(2,p) = ord(-2,p) = (p-1)/2, then we have that (p-1)/2 is odd and (-1)^((p-1)/2) == 1 (mod p), a contradiction.

A prime p is a term if and only if one of the two following conditions holds: (a) -2 is a primitive root modulo p; (b) p == 3 (mod 4), and the multiplicative order of -2 modulo p is (p-1)/2 (in this case, we have p == 3 (mod 8) since -2 is a quadratic residue modulo p). (End)

No terms are congruent to 1 modulo 8, since otherwise we would have 4^((p-1)/4) = (+-2)^((p-1)/2) == 1 (mod p). - Jianing Song, May 14 2024

The n-th prime A000040(n) is a term iff A376010(n) = 2. - Max Alekseyev, Sep 05 2024

All positive Jacobsthal numbers are odd, so the index starts at n = 2.

The set of primitive prime factors of J_k is given by {A000040(j) | a(j) = k}.

By definition, a(n) is the multiplicative order of -2 modulo the n-th prime for n > 2. - Jianing Song, Jun 20 2025