Quadratic polynomials at prime arguments

Abstract: For a fixed quadratic irreducible polynomial $f$ with no fixed prime factors at prime arguments, we prove that there exist infinitely many primes $p$ such that $f(p)$ has at most 4 prime factors, improving a classical result of Richert who requires 5 in place of 4. Denoting by $P^+(n)$ the greatest prime factor of $n$, it is also proved that $P^+(f(p))>p^{0.847}$ infinitely often.