On prime chains

Abstract

Let b be an odd integer such that b=+/-1 (mod 8) and let q be a prime with primitive root 2 such that q does not divide b. We show that if (p(k)) is a sequence of odd primes, with 0<=k<=q-2 such that p(k)=2p(k-1)+b for all 1<=k<=q-2, then either (a) q divides p(0)+b, (b) p_0=q or (c) p_1=q.

arXiv comment4 pages. 2nd version extends results, shortens proofs and corrects errors