>
> > Since I joined the project 10 months ago, we have found no
> >new Mersenne primes
>
> We have been unlucky.
If they were easier to find we wouldn't be looking for them.
Since M(5) appeared in a codex in 1456 there have been 32 more Mersenne
primes discovered up to 1998. An average of one every 16.4 years.
If we only consider those found in the computer age when Robinson used
the SWAC to find M(13)-M(17) in 1952, there is a total of 25 between 1952
and 1998. An average of one every 1.84 years. GIMPS has found 3
Mersenne primes in 3 years. I would say we are doing pretty good.
Regarding Noll's island theory, now that p has grown large is it
possible the pattern (756839, 859433), (1257787, 1398269), (2976221,
3021377) continues (ie groups of two separated by gaps)? This would
suggest the next Mersenne prime would be found after a gap perhaps p>6M.
For more see the archives http://www2.netdoor.com/~acurry/mersenne/
Search for "Noll* island".
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