Matrix Kloosterman sums and product-trace estimates for semisimple algebras
Let $k=\mathbb{F}_q$, $E=\mathbb{F}_{q^n}$ and $\mathrm{Tr}=\mathrm{Tr}_{E/k}$. For $r\ge 2$, $a\in k^{\times}$ and $x\in E^{\times}$, let $\mathrm{N}(E,r,x,a)$ be the number of $r$-tuples $(x_1,\cdots,x_r)$ in $(E^{\times})^r$ satisfying $x_1\cdots x_r=x$ and $\mathrm{Tr}(x_1+\cdots+x_r)=a$. We prove $\left|\mathrm{N}(E,r,x,a)-\left((q^n-1)^{r-1}+(-1)^r\right)/q\right|\le (r^n-1) q^{\frac{(r-1)n-1}{2}}$. This proves the square-root estimate predicted in Wan's conjecture and generalizes a previous result of Moisio and Wan. For a finite semisimple algebra $B=\prod\limits_{i=1}^s M_{d_i}(\mathbb{F}_{q^{n_i}})$ over $k$ and a regular element $x\in B^{\times}$, the same method combined with Zelingher's formula leads to analogous square-root estimates.