Curves over Finite Fields and Permutations of the Form xk - γTr(x).

We consider the polynomials of the form P(x) = xk - γTr(x) over 픽 qn for n ≥ 2. We show that P(x) is not a permutation of 픽qn in the case gcd(k, qn - 1) > 1. Our proof uses an absolutely irreducible curve over 픽qn and the number of rational points on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]