We consider the distribution of the polygonal paths joining partial sums of classical Kloosterman sums $\text{Kl}_{p}(a)$, as $a$ varies over $\mathbf{F}_{p}^{\times }$ and as $p$ tends to infinity. Using independence of Kloosterman sheaves, we prove convergence in the sense of finite distributions to a specific random Fourier series. We also consider Birch sums, for which we can establish convergence in law in the space of continuous functions. We then derive some applications.

Random Fourier series are studied for a class of compact abelian hypergroups. The randomizing factors are assumed to be independent and uniformly subgaussian. In the presence of a natural teachnical hypothesis, an entropy condition of Dudley is shown to be sufficient for almost sure continuity. The classical results on almost sure membership in Lp, where p < ∞, are generalized to this setting. As an application, it is shown that a simple condition on the dual object implies that the de Leeuw-Kahane-Katznelson phenomenon occurs. Another application is the analogue of a classical sufficient condition for almost sure continuity. Examples illustrating the general theory are given for the hypergroup of conjugacy classes of SU(2) and for a class of compact countable hypergroups.