On a class of diagonal equations over finite fields

Abstract: Using properties of Gauss and Jacobi sums, we derive explicit formulas for the number of solutions to a diagonal equation of the form $x_1^{2^m}+\dots+x_n^{2^m}=0$ over a finite field of characteristic $p\equiv\pm 3\pmod{8}$. All of the evaluations are effected in terms of parameters occurring in quadratic partitions of some powers of $p$.