Related papers: Arithmetic aspects of the Burkhardt quartic threef…
A basis for the space of generalized theta functions of level one for the spin groups, parameterized by the theta characteristics (the even theta characteristcs for the odd spin groups) on a curve, is shown to be projectively flat over the…
In this work we consider constructions of genus three curves $X$ such that $\mathrm{End}(\mathrm{Jac} (X))\otimes Q$ contains the totally real cubic number field $Q(\zeta _7 +\bar{\zeta}_7 )$. We construct explicit three-dimensional…
If C is a curve of genus 4 without vanishing theta-nulls then there exists a unique (irreducible) Heisenberg-invariant quartic Q_C in |2\Theta| = P^{15} such that Sing Q_C contains the image of SU_C(2), the moduli space of rank 2 vector…
We parametrize quartic commutative algebras over any base ring or scheme (equivalently finite, flat degree four $S$-schemes), with their cubic resolvents, by pairs of ternary quadratic forms over the base. This generalizes Bhargava's…
Let $C$ be a smooth projective curve of genus 2 over a number field $k$ with a rational point. We prove that the index and exponent coincide for elements in the 2-torsion of $\Sha(Br(C))$. In the appendix, an isomorphism of the moduli space…
We describe the invariants of plane quartic curves -- nonhyperelliptic genus 3 curves in their canonical model -- as determined by Dixmier and Ohno, with application to the classification of curves with given structure. In particular, we…
We describe a normal form for a smooth intersection of two quadrics in even-dimensional projective space over an arbitrary field of characteristic 2. We use this to obtain a description of the automorphism group of such a variety. As an…
For any field k of characteristic at most 5 we exhibit an explicit smooth quartic surface in projective threespace over k with trivial automorphism group over the algebraic closure of k. We also show how this can be extended to higher…
We study the Jacobian $J$ of the smooth projective curve $C$ of genus $r-1$ with affine model $y^r = x^{r-1}(x + 1)(x + t)$ over the function field $\mathbb{F}_p(t)$, when $p$ is prime and $r\ge 2$ is an integer prime to $p$. When $q$ is a…
Given a smooth plane quartic curve C over a field k of characteristic 0, with Jacobian variety J, and a marked rational point P of C(k), we construct a reductive group G and a G-variety X, together with an injection J(k)/2J(k) -> G(k)\X(k).…
We present a treatment of the algebraic description of the Jacobian of a generic genus two plane curve which exploits an SL2(k) equivariance and clarifes the structure of E.V.Flynn's 72 defining quadratic relations. The treatment is also…
We isolate a class of smooth rational cubic fourfolds X containing a plane whose associated quadric surface bundle does not have a rational section. This is equivalent to the nontriviality of the Brauer class of the even Clifford algebra…
We study the geometry and arithmetic of so-called primary Burniat surfaces, a family of surfaces of general type arising as smooth bidouble covers of a del Pezzo surface of degree 6 and at the same time as \'etale quotients of certain…
We study the discriminant of a degree 4 extension given by a deformed bidouble cover, i.e., by equations z^2= u + a w, w^2= v + bz. We first show that the discriminant surface is a quartic which is cuspidal on a twisted cubic, i.e.,is the…
We prove a general specialization theorem which implies stable irrationality for a wide class of quadric surface bundles over rational surfaces. As an application, we solve with the exception of two cases, the stable rationality problem for…
We show how for every integer n one can explicitly construct n distinct plane quartics and one hyperelliptic curve over the complex numbers all of whose Jacobians are isomorphic to one another as abelian varieties without polarization. When…
We compute cohomology of the moduli space of genus three curves with level two structure and some related spaces. In particular, we determine the cohomology groups of the moduli space of plane quartics with level two structure as…
It is one of the wonderful ``coincidences'' of the theory of finite groups that the simple group G of order 25920 arises as both a symplectic group in characteristic 3 and a unitary group in characteristic 2. These two realizations of G…
We compute in a direct (not algorithmic) way the zeta function of all supersingular curves of genus 2 over a finite field k, with many geometric automorphisms. We display these computations in an appendix where we select a family of…
Let C be a supersingular genus-2 curve over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 3. We show that if C is not isomorphic to the curve y^2 = x^5 + 1 then up to isomorphism there are exactly 20 degree-3 maps phi from C to the…