Related papers: Some 4-point Hurwitz numbers in positive character…

In this paper we study the geometry of the Severi varieties parametrizing curves on the rational ruled surface $\fn$. We compute the number of such curves through the appropriate number of fixed general points on $\fn$, and the number of…

This article is an extended version of preprint math.AG/9902104. We find an explicit formula for the number of topologically different ramified coverings of a sphere by a genus g surface with only one complicated branching point in terms of…

Given a Galois cover of curves $f$ over a field of characteristic $p$, the lifting problem asks whether there exists a Galois cover over a complete mixed characteristic discrete valuation ring whose reduction is $f$. In this paper, we…

Let k be a finite field of odd characteristic. We find a closed formula for the number of k-isomorphism classes of pointed, and non-pointed, hyperelliptic curves of genus g over k, admitting a Koblitz model. These numbers are expressed as a…

We determine the stable reduction at $p$ of all three point covers of the projective line with Galois group ${\rm SL}_2(p)$. As a special case, we recover the results of Deligne and Rapoport on the reduction of the modular curves $X_0(p)$…

For any smooth Hurwitz curve $\mathcal{H}_n: \, XY^n+YZ^n+X^nZ=0$ over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_{p}$, an explict description of its Weierstrass points for the morphism of lines is presented. As a consequence, the full automorphism group…

We classify and study trigonal curves in Hirzebruch surfaces admitting dihedral Galois coverings. As a consequence, we obtain certain restrictions on the fundamental group of a plane curve~$D$ with a singular point of multiplicity $(\deg…

We study genus $4$ curves over finite fields and two invariants of the $p$-torsion part of their Jacobians: the $a$-number ($a$) and $p$-rank ($f$). We collect and analyze statistical data of curves over $\mathbb{F}_p$ for $p=3,5,7,11$ and…

We give new examples of plane curves with two or more Galois points as a family, and describe the number of Galois points for these curves, by using finite fields.

We derive a closed-form expression for all genus 1 Hurwitz numbers, and give a simple new graph-theoretic interpretation of Hurwitz numbers in genus 0 and 1. (Hurwitz numbers essentially count irreducible genus g covers of the sphere, with…

We consider the inverse Galois problem over function fields of positive characteristic p, for example, the inverse Galois problem over the projective line. We describe a method to construct certain Galois covers of the projective line and…

In this paper, we study a certain type of Hurwitz numbers which count branched covers over the Riemann sphere admitting several branch points with fixed ramification types, one branch point with a fixed number of preimages, and one branch…

Let C be a complete non-singular irreducible curve of genus 4 over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. We determine all possible Weierstrass semigroups of ramification points on double covers of C which have genus greater…

Consider a hyperelliptic curve of genus $2$ over a field $K$ of characteristic zero. After extending $K$ we can view it as a marked curve with its $6$ Weierstrass points. We classify the structure of the potentially stable reduction of such…

Consider the 1-dimensional Hurwitz space parameterizing covers of P^1 branched at four points. We study its intersection with divisor classes on the moduli space of curves. As an application, we calculate the slope of the Teichmuller curve…

We settle the automorphism groups of curves appearing in a classification list of smooth plane curves with at least two Galois points. One of them is an ordinary curve whose automorphism group exceeds the Hurwitz bound.

Let $F$ be a number field and $p\geq7$ a rational prime. We obtain a simple descent criterion characterising those projective Galois representations $\overline\rho:G_F\to\mathrm{PGL}_2(\mathbb{F}_p)$ for which the corresponding twist…

For a branched cover between two closed orientable surfaces, the Riemann-Hurwitz formula relates the Euler characteristics of the surfaces, the total degree of the cover, and the total length of the partitions of the degree given by the…

Suppose $X$ is a smooth projective connected curve defined over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$ and $B \subset X(k)$ is a finite, possibly empty, set of points. The Newton polygon of a degree $p$ Galois cover of…

One of the big questions in the area of curves over finite fields concerns the distribution of the numbers of points: Which numbers occur as the number of points on a curve of genus $g$? The same question can be asked of various subclasses…