A graph aided strategy to produce good recursive towers over finite fields

We propose a systematic method to produce potentially good recursive towers over finite fields. The graph point of view, so as some magma and sage computations are used in this process. We also establish some theoretical functional criterion ensuring the existence of many rational points on a recursive tower. Both points are illustrated by an example, from the production process, to the theoretical study.     

Fluctuations in the number of points on smooth plane curves over finite fields

In this note, we study the fluctuations in the number of points on smooth projective plane curves over a finite field Fq as q is fixed and the genus varies. More precisely, we show that these fluctuations are predicted by a natural probabilistic model, in which the points of the projective plane impose independent conditions on the curve. The main tool we use is a geometric sieving process introduced by Poonen (2004) [8].     

Explicit maximal and minimal curves over finite fields of odd characteristics

In this work we present explicit classes of maximal and minimal Artin–Schreier type curves over finite fields having odd characteristics. Our results include the proof of Conjecture 5.9 given in [1] as a very special subcase. We use some techniques developed in [2], which were not used in [1].     

Rational points and Galois points for a plane curve over a finite field

We study the relationship between rational points and Galois points for a plane curve over a finite field. It is known that the set of Galois points coincides with that of rational points of the projective plane if the curve is the Hermitian, Klein quartic or Ballico–Hefez curve. The author proposes a problem: Does the converse hold true? If the curve of genus zero or one has a rational point, we have an affirmative answer.     

Near-MDS codes arising from algebraic curves

Every elliptic quartic Γ₄ of PG(3,q) with nGF(q)-rational points provides a near-MDS code C of length n and dimension 4 such that the collineation group of Γ₄ is isomorphic to the automorphism group of C. In this paper we assume that GF(q) has characteristic p>3. We classify the linear collineation groups of PG(3,q) which can preserve an elliptic quartic of PG(3,q). Also, we prove for q?113 that if the j-invariant of Γ₄ does not disappear, then C cannot be extended in a natural way by adding a point of PG(3,q) to Γ₄.     

On the number of curves of genus 2 over a finite field

In this paper we compute the number of curves of genus 2 defined over a finite field k of odd characteristic up to isomorphisms defined over k; the even characteristic case is treated in an ongoing work (G. Cardona, E. Nart, J. Pujolàs, Curves of genus 2 over field of even characteristic, 2003, submitted for publication). To this end, we first give a parametrization of all points in , the moduli variety that classifies genus 2 curves up to isomorphism, defined over an arbitrary perfect field (of zero or odd characteristic) and corresponding to curves with non-trivial reduced group of automorphisms; we also give an explicit representative defined over that field for each of these points. Then, we use cohomological methods to compute the number of k-isomorphism classes for each point in .     

Probabilities of incidence between lines and a plane curve over finite fields

We study the probability for a random line to intersect a given plane curve, over a finite field, in a given number of points over the same field. In particular, we focus on the limits of these probabilities under successive finite field extensions. Supposing absolute irreducibility for the curve, we show how a variant of the Chebotarev density theorem for function fields can be used to prove the existence of these limits, and to compute them under a mildly stronger condition, known as simple tangency. Partial results have already appeared in the literature, and we propose this work as an introduction to the use of the Chebotarev theorem in the context of incidence geometry. Finally, Veronese maps allow us to compute similar probabilities of intersection between a given curve and random curves of given degree.     

On generalizations of Fermat curves over finite fields and their automorphisms

Let 𝒳 be an irreducible algebraic curve defined over a finite field 𝔽_q of characteristic p>2. Assume that the 𝔽_q-automorphism group of 𝒳 admits a subgroup isomorphic to the direct product of two cyclic groups C_m and C_n of orders m and n prime to p, such that both quotient curves 𝒳∕C_n and 𝒳∕C_m are rational. In this paper, we provide a complete classification of such curves as well as a characterization of their full automorphism groups.     

Fast computation of a rational point of a variety over a finite field

We exhibit a probabilistic algorithm which computes a rational point of an absolutely irreducible variety over a finite field defined by a reduced regular sequence. Its time-space complexity is roughly quadratic in the logarithm of the cardinality of the field and a geometric invariant of the input system. This invariant, called the degree, is bounded by the Bézout number of the system. Our algorithm works for fields of any characteristic, but requires the cardinality of the field to be greater than a quantity which is roughly the fourth power of the degree of the input variety.

     

On the genus of a cyclic curve over a finite field

Cyclic curves, i.e. curves fixed by a cyclic collineation group, play a central role in the investigation of cyclic arcs in Desarguesian projective planes. In this paper, the genus of a cyclic curve arising from a cyclic k-arc of Singer type is computed.     

Group generated by the Weierstrass points of a plane quartic

We describe the group generated by the Weierstrass points in the Jacobian of the curve This curve is the only curve of genus 3, apart from the fourth Fermat curve, possessing exactly twelve Weierstrass points.

     

Number of rational points of a singular curve

In this paper, we give a bound for the number of rational points of a complete, geometrically irreducible, algebraic curve defined over a finite field. We compare it with other known bounds and discuss its sharpness. We also show that the asymptotic Drinfeld-Vladut bound can be generalized to the case of singular curves.

     

Estimates on the number of Fq–rational solutions of variants of diagonal equations over finite fields

In this paper we study the set of

-rational solutions of equations defined by polynomials evaluated in power-sum polynomials with coefficients in

. This is done by means of applying a methodology which relies on the study of the geometry of the set of common zeros of symmetric polynomials over the algebraic closure of

. We provide improved estimates and existence results of

-rational solutions to the following equations: deformed diagonal equations, generalized Markoff-Hurwitz-type equations and Carlitz's equations. We extend these techniques to more general variants of diagonal equations over finite fields.