Introduction to Finite Fields and their Applications

The theory of finite fields is a branch of modern algebra that has come to the fore in recent years because of its diverse applications in such areas as combinatorics, coding theory, cryptology and the mathematical study of switching circuits. The first part of this book presents an introduction to this theory, emphasizing those aspects that are relevant for application. The second part is devoted to a discussion of the most important applications of finite fields, especially to information...