Multiplicative Weierstrass Points and the Jacobi Variety of a Compact Riemann Surface

In the previous papers of the present author, a general theory of multiplicative Weierstrass points on compact Riemann surfaces for arbitrary characters was developed. In the present paper, some additional relations between multiplicative Weierstrass points on a compact Riemann surface for an arbitrary character and special subsets in the Jacobi variety, the canonical embedding of a compact Riemann surface into a projective space, are established. We not distinction between classical Weierstrass points and multiplicative Weierstrass points on a compact Riemann surface.     

Weierstrass Points and Regular Maps

It was shown by G. A. Jones and the first author in [8] that underlying any map on a compact orientable surface S there is a natural complex structure making S into a Riemann surface. In this paper we consider regular maps and enquire about the Weierstrass points on the underlying Riemann surface. We are particularly interested to know when these are geometric, i.e. whether they lie at vertices, face-centres or edge-centres of the map.     

The spaces of meromorphic Prym differentials on a finite Riemann surface

In the previous articles the second author started constructing a general theory of multiplicative functions and Prym differentials on a compact Riemann surface for arbitrary characters. Function theory on compact Riemann surfaces differs substantially from that on finite Riemann surfaces. In this article we start constructing a general function theory on variable finite Riemann surfaces for multiplicative meromorphic functions and differentials. We construct the forms of all elementary Prym differentials for arbitrary characters and find the dimensions of, and also construct explicit bases for, two important quotient spaces of Prym differentials. This yields the dimension of and a basis for the first holomorphic de Rham cohomology group of Prym differentials for arbitrary characters.     

A generalized Kiepert formula for <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">ab</Emphasis></Subscript> curves

Kiepert (1873) and Brioschi (1864) published algebraic equations for the n-division points of an elliptic curve, in terms of the Weierstrass ℘-function and its derivatives with respect to a uniformizing parameter, or another elliptic function, respectively. We generalize both types of formulas for a compact Riemann surface which, outside from one point, has a smooth polynomial equation in the plane, in the sense that we characterize the points whose n-th multiple in the Jacobian belongs to the theta divisor.     

The Geometry of Two Generator Groups: Hyperelliptic Handlebodies

A Kleinian group naturally stabilizes certain subdomains and closed subsets of the closure of hyperbolic three space and yields a number of different quotient surfaces and manifolds. Some of these quotients have conformal structures and others hyperbolic structures. For two generator free Fuchsian groups, the quotient three manifold is a genus two solid handlebody and its boundary is a hyperelliptic Riemann surface. The convex core is also a hyperelliptic Riemann surface. We find the Weierstrass points of both of these surfaces. We then generalize the notion of a hyperelliptic Riemann surface to a hyperelliptic three manifold. We show that the handlebody has a unique order two isometry fixing six unique geodesic line segments, which we call the Weierstrass lines of the handlebody. The Weierstrass lines are, of course, the analogue of the Weierstrass points on the boundary surface. Further, we show that the manifold is foliated by surfaces equidistant from the convex core, each fixed by the isometry of order two. The restriction of this involution to the equidistant surface fixes six generalized Weierstrass points on the surface. In addition, on each of these equidistant surfaces we find an orientation reversing involution that fixes curves through the generalized Weierstrass points.Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000). primary 30F10, 30F35, 30F40; secondary 14H30, 22E40.     

Weierstrass points and their impact in the study of algebraic curves: a historical account from the “Lückensatz” to the 1970s

In this note we give a historical account of the origin and the development of the concept of Weierstrass point. We also explain how Weierstrass points have contributed to the study of compact Riemann surfaces and algebraic curves in the century from Weierstrass’ statement of the gap theorem to the 1970s. In particular, we focus on the seminal work of Hürwitz that raised questions which are at the center of contemporary research on this topic.      

Complex structures in the Nash-Moser category

Working in the Nash-Moser category, it is shown that the harmonic and holomorphic differentials and the Weierstrass points on a closed Riemann surface depend smoothly on the complex structure. It is also shown that the space of complex structures on any compact surface forms a principal bundle over the Teichmüller space and hence that the uniformization maps of the closed disk and the sphere depend smoothly on the complex structure.     

Weierstrass factorizations in compact Riemann surfaces

Letν′ be the complementary in a compact Riemann surface ν of a point (or a finite set). In this paper are characterized the subfields, of the field of meromorphic functions inν′, containing sufficient functions to verify a factorization property, similar to that of the classical Weierstrass theorem. It is also seen that the field generated by the Baker functions is not of this type, and the problem is solved of determining the divisors, inν′, of the holomorphic functions admiting Weierstrass factorizations with Baker functions as factors. As an application, a theorem is obtained characterizing the infinite products, of meromorphic functions in ν with bounded degree, which converge normally inν′. The first-named author is partially supported by PB91-0188.     

A Simple Way for Determining the Normalized Potentials for Harmonic Maps

We give a simple way for determining the normalized potentials in the Weierstrass type representation of the harmonic maps for a Riemann surface to a compact symmetric space. As an application, the normalized potential for an arbitrary constant mean curvature surface in space is obtained.     

A description of the weierstrass gap sequence by means of the Riemann theta function

We show that the vanishing of the Riemann theta function on some subvarieties of the Jacobi varieties of a compact Riemann surface determines the gap sequence at the base point of the Jacobi homomorphism. This gives other defining equations for the varieties of Weierstrass pointsW _k ^r defined by Lax.     

Special values of canonical Green’s functions

We give a precise formula for the value of the canonical Green’s function at a pair of Weierstrass points on a hyperelliptic Riemann surface. Further we express the ‘energy’ of the Weierstrass points in terms of a spectral invariant recently introduced by N. Kawazumi and S. Zhang. It follows that the energy is strictly larger than log 2. Our results generalize known formulas for elliptic curves.     

Uniformization of one-parametric families of complex tori

We suggest an approximate method to find an elliptic function uniformizing a compact Riemann surface of genus 1 which is given as a ramified covering of the Riemann sphere. The method is based on including the surface into a smooth one-parametric family. We deduce a system of ordinary differential equations for critical points of elliptic functions uniformizing surfaces of the family.     

Some bounds for the number of coincidences of morphisms between closed riemann surfaces

We give some bounds for the number of coincidences of two morphisms between given compact Riemann surfaces (complete complex algebraic curves) which generalize well known facts about the number of fixed points of automorphisms. In the particular case in which both surfaces are hyperelliptic, our results permit us to obtain a bound for the number of morphisms between them. The proof relies on the idea, first used by Schwarz in the case of automorphisms, of representing a morphism by its action on the set of Weierstrass points.     

On Weierstrass semigroups and sets: a review with new results

In this work we present a survey of the main results in the theory of Weierstrass semigroups at several points, with special attention to the determination of bounds for the cardinality of its set of gaps. We also review results on applications to the theory of error correcting codes. We then recall a generalization of the concept of Weierstrass semigroup, which is the Weierstrass set associated to a linear system and several points. We finish by presenting new results on this Weierstrass set, including some on the cardinality of its set of gaps.      

The space of harmonic Prym differentials on a variable compact Riemann surface

The harmonic Prym differentials and their period classes play an important role in the modern theory of functions on compact Riemann surfaces [1–7]. We study the harmonic Prym bundle, whose fibers are the spaces of harmonic Prym differentials on variable compact Riemann surfaces and find its connection with Gunning’s cohomological bundle over the Teichmüller space for two important subgroups of the inessential and normalized characters on a compact Riemann surface. We study the periods of holomorphic Prym differentials for essential characters on variable compact Riemann surfaces.     

Explicit Mumford isomorphism for hyperelliptic curves

Using an explicit version of the Mumford isomorphism on the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves we derive a closed formula for the Arakelov-Green function of a hyperelliptic Riemann surface evaluated at its Weierstrass points.     

Betti Numbers of parabolic U(2,1)-Higgs bundles moduli spaces

Let X be a compact Riemann surface together with a finite set of marked points. We use Morse theoretic techniques to compute the Betti numbers of the parabolic U(2,1)-Higgs bundles moduli spaces over X. We give examples for one marked point showing that the Poincaré polynomials depend on the system of weights of the parabolic bundle.      

The Riemann constant for a non-symmetric Weierstrass semigroup

The zero divisor of the theta function of a compact Riemann surface X of genus g is the canonical theta divisor of Pic\({^{(g-1)}}\) up to translation by the Riemann constant \({\Delta}\) for a base point P of X. The complement of the Weierstrass gaps at the base point P gives a numerical semigroup, called the Weierstrass semigroup. It is classically known that the Riemann constant \({\Delta}\) is a half period, namely an element of \({\frac{1}{2}\Gamma_\tau}\) , for the Jacobi variety \({\mathcal{J}(X)=\mathbb{C}^{g}/\Gamma_\tau}\) of X if and only if the Weierstrass semigroup at P is symmetric. In this article, we analyze the non-symmetric case. Using a semi-canonical divisor D₀, we express the relation between the Riemann constant \({\Delta}\) and a half period in the non-symmetric case. We point out an application to an algebraic expression for the Jacobi inversion problem. We also identify the semi-canonical divisor D₀ for trigonal pointed curves, namely with total ramification at P.     

Codes from curves with total inflection points

The concept of pure gaps of a Weierstrass semigroup at several points of an algebraic curve has been used lately to obtain codes that have a lower bound for the minimum distance which is greater than the Goppa bound. In this work, we show that the existence of total inflection points on a smooth plane curve determines the existence of pure gaps in certain Weierstrass semigroups. We then apply our results to the Hermitian curve and construct codes supported on several points that compare better to one-point codes from that same curve.