I need to show that the group $(\mathbb{Z}/p^a\mathbb{Z})^{\times}$ is cyclic for odd prime $p$ and for $a\in \mathbb{N}^+$. I have already shown that $(\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z})^{\times}$ has a generator $g$ and so is cyclic. I have also shown that either $g$ or $g+p$ is a generator for $(\mathbb{Z}/p^2\mathbb{Z})^{\times}$.
How can I proceed to show that $(\mathbb{Z}/p^a\mathbb{Z})^{\times}$ is also cyclic for higher powers?
For the life of me I can't get it.
Thanks for any help you can provide!
I think the clearest way to proceed is to use the following lifting lemma.
Lemma: Let $p$ be an odd prime and let $x$ be coprime to $p$. If for some exponent $k$ we have $$x\equiv 1 \pmod{p^k},\ \ \ \ \ \ x \not\equiv 1 \pmod{p^{k+1}}$$ then we also have $$x^p\equiv 1 \pmod{p^{k+1}},\ \ \ \ \ \ x^p \not\equiv 1 \pmod{p^{k+2}}$$ Proof: Let us consider the binomial theorem. Since $x\equiv 1 \pmod{p^k}$, there is some $n\in\mathbb{Z}$ such that $x = 1 + np^k$. The second congruence then requires $p\nmid n$. Taking the expression to the $p$th power then gives us $$x^p=(1+np^k)^p = \sum_{i=0}^p\binom{p}{i}n^ip^{ki}$$ In the above expression, all terms with $i\ge 2$ are necessarily divisible by $p^{k+2}$, therefore only the first two terms survive the congruence $$x^p \equiv 1 + np^{k+1} \not\equiv 1 \pmod{p^{k+2}}$$ but clearly, the second term is divisible by $p^{k+1}$ so we have $$x^p \equiv 1 \pmod{p^{k+1}}$$ The result is as desired. $\square$
From your work with $(\mathbb{Z}/p^2\mathbb{Z})^{\times}$, you know that there is some $g$ such that $$g^{p-1} \equiv 1 \pmod p,\ \ \ \ \ \ g^{p-1} \not\equiv 1\pmod{p^2}$$ Now use the above lemma to inductively lift the congruence into $p^a$.