Bounds for the number of points on curves over finite fields

Let U be a bounded open subset of ?^d, d ≥ 2 and f ∈ C(?U). The Dirichlet solution f^CU of the Dirichlet problem associated with the Laplace equation with a boundary condition f is not continuous on the closure ū of U in general if U is not regular but it is always Baire-one.Let H(U) be the space of all functions continuous on the closure ū and harmonic on U and F(H(U)) be the space of uniformly bounded absolutely convergent series of functions in H(U). We prove that f^CU can be obtained as a uniform limit of a sequence of functions in F(H(U)). Thus f^CU belongs to the subclass B_1/2 of Baire-one functions studied for example in [8]. This is not only an improvement of the result obtained in [10] but it also shows that the Dirichlet solution on the closure ū can share better properties than to be only a Baire-one function. Moreover, our proof is more elementary than that in [10].A generalization to the abstract context of simplicial function space on a metrizable compact space is provided.We conclude the paper with a brief discussion on the solvability of the abstract Dirichlet problem with a boundary condition belonging to the space of differences of bounded semicontinuous functions complementing the results obtained in [17].     

Orchards in elliptic curves over finite fields

Consider a set of n points on a plane. A line containing exactly 3 out of the n points is called a 3-rich line. The classical orchard problem asks for a configuration of the n points on the plane that maximizes the number of 3-rich lines. In this note, using the group law in elliptic curves over finite fields, we exhibit several (infinitely many) group models for orchards wherein the number of 3-rich lines agrees with the expected number given by Green-Tao (or, Burr, Grünbaum and Sloane) formula for the maximum number of lines. We also show, using elliptic curves over finite fields, that there exist infinitely many point-line configurations with the number of 3-rich lines exceeding the expected number given by Green-Tao formula by two, and this is the only other optimal possibility besides the case when the number of 3-rich lines agrees with the Green-Tao formula.     

On completely free elements in finite fields

Letq>1 be a prime power,m>1 an integer,GF(q ^m) andGF (q) the Galois fields of orderq ^m andq, respectively. We show that the different module structures of (GF(q ^m), +) arising from the intermediate fields of the field extensionGF(q ^m) overGF (q), can be studied simultaneously with the help of some basic properties of cyclotomic polynomials. The results can be generalized to finite cyclic Galois extensions over arbitrary fields.In 1986, D. Blessenohl and K. Johnsen proved that there exist elements inGF(q ^m) which generate normal bases inGF(q ^m) overany intermediate fieldGF(q ^d) ofGF(q ^m) overGF(q). Such elements are called completely free inGF(q ^m) overGF(q). Using our ideas, we give a detailed and constructive proof of the most difficult part of that theorem, i.e., the existence of completely free elements inGF(q ^m), overGF(q) provided thatm is a prime power. The general existence problem of completely free elements is easily reduced to this special case.Furthermore, we develop a recursive formula for the number of completely free elements inGF(q ^m) overGF(q) in the case wherem is a prime power.     

Linearizing torsion classes in the Picard group of algebraic curves over finite fields

We address the problem of computing in the group of ${?}^k$-torsion rational points of the jacobian variety of algebraic curves over finite fields, with a view toward computing modular representations.     

Algebraic complexities and algebraic curves over finite fields

Algebraic schemes of computation of bilinear forms over various rings of scalars are examined. The problem of minimal complexity of these schemes is considered for computation of polynomial multiplication and multiplication in commutative algebras, and finite extensions of fields. While for infinite fields minimal complexities are known (Winograd, Fiduccia, Strassen), for finite fields precise minimal complexities are not yet determined. We prove lower and upper bounds on minimal complexities. Both are linear in the number of inputs. These results are obtained using the relationship with linear coding theory and the theory of algebraic curves over finite fields.     

Towers of function fields over finite fields corresponding to elliptic modular curves

In this paper, we find several equations of recursive towers of function fields over finite fields corresponding to sequences of elliptic modular curves. This is a continuation of the work of Noam D. Elkies [8], [9] on modular equations of higher degrees.     

On the structure of the divisor class group of a class of curves over finite fields

The current work address of the second author is FB 6 Mathematik und Informatik, Universität GH Essen, D-45117 Essen. This paper is partly supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany.     

Random hypersurfaces and embedding curves in surfaces over finite fields

We use Poonen's closed point sieve to prove two independent results. First, we show that the obvious obstruction to embedding a curve in an unspecified smooth surface is the only obstruction over a perfect field, by proving the finite field analogue of a Bertini-type result of Altman and Kleiman. Second, we prove a conjecture of Vakil and Wood on the asymptotic probability of hypersurface sections having a prescribed number of singularities.     

Bounds for bounded motion around a perturbed fixed point

We consider a dissipative map of the plane with a bounded perturbation term. This perturbation represents e.g. an extra time dependent term, a coupling to another system or noise. The unperturbed map has a spiral attracting fixed point. We derive an analytical/numerical method to determine the effect of the additional term on the phase portrait of the original map, as a function of the bound on the perturbation. This method yields a value _c such that for< _c the orbits about the attractor are certainly bounded. In that case we obtain a largest region in which all orbits remain bounded and a smallest region in which these bounded orbits are captured after some time (the analogue of basin and attractor respectively).The analysis is based on the Lyapunov function which exists for the unperturbed map.     

Algebraic curves over functional fields with a finite field of constants

We prove a theorem of finiteness for curves of genus g>1, defined over a functional field of finite characteristic and having fixed invariants. As an application we obtain Tate's conjecture concerning homomorphisms of elliptic curves over a field of functions.     

Algebraic elements in division algebras over function fields of curves

LetD be a division algebra with centerK a function field of a curveC overk;k(C)=K. We study the maximalk-algebraic subfields ofD. In Theorem 3.1 it is shown that ifD is unramified andC is an elliptic curve thenD contains ak-algebraic splitting field. This enables us to give a new class of counter examples to the Hasse principle for division algebras. The first author is supported by an N.F.W.O. grant. The second author is grateful to the Universities of Antwerp U.I.A. and R.U.C.A. for making it possible for him to do this research.     

Divisibility of polynomials over finite fields and combinatorial applications

Consider a maximum-length shift-register sequence generated by a primitive polynomial f over a finite field. The set of its subintervals is a linear code whose dual code is formed by all polynomials divisible by f. Since the minimum weight of dual codes is directly related to the strength of the corresponding orthogonal arrays, we can produce orthogonal arrays by studying divisibility of polynomials. Munemasa (Finite Fields Appl 4(3):252–260, 1998) uses trinomials over \mathbbF₂{\mathbb{F}_2} to construct orthogonal arrays of guaranteed strength 2 (and almost strength 3). That result was extended by Dewar et al. (Des Codes Cryptogr 45:1–17, 2007) to construct orthogonal arrays of guaranteed strength 3 by considering divisibility of trinomials by pentanomials over \mathbbF₂{\mathbb{F}_2} . Here we first simplify the requirement in Munemasa’s approach that the characteristic polynomial of the sequence must be primitive: we show that the method applies even to the much broader class of polynomials with no repeated roots. Then we give characterizations of divisibility for binomials and trinomials over \mathbbF₃{\mathbb{F}_3} . Some of our results apply to any finite field \mathbbF_q{\mathbb{F}_q} with q elements.     

Tropical curves with a singularity in a fixed point

In this paper, we study tropicalisations of families of plane curves with a singularity in a fixed point. The tropicalisation of such a family is a linear tropical variety. We describe its maximal dimensional cones using results about linear tropical varieties. We show that a singularity tropicalises either to a vertex of higher valence or of higher multiplicity, or to an edge of higher weight. We then classify maximal dimensional types of singular tropical curves. For those, the singularity is either a crossing of two edges, or a 3-valent vertex of multiplicity 3, or a point on an edge of weight 2 whose distances to the neighbouring vertices satisfy a certain metric condition. We also study generic singular tropical curves enhanced with refined tropical limits and construct canonical simple parameterisations for them, explaining the above metric condition.     

On the instability of the Riemann hypothesis for curves over finite fields

We show that it is possible to approximate the zeta-function of a curve over a finite field by meromorphic functions which satisfy the same functional equation and moreover satisfy (respectively do not satisfy) an analog of the Riemann hypothesis. In the other direction, it is possible to approximate holomorphic functions by simple manipulations of such a zeta-function. No number theory is required to understand the theorems and their proofs, for it is known that the zeta-functions of curves over finite fields are very explicit meromorphic functions. We study the approximation properties of these meromorphic functions.