Maps between curves and arithmetic obstructions

Let X and Y be curves over a finite field. In this article we explore methods to determine whether there is a rational map from Y to X by considering L-functions of certain covers of X and Y and propose a specific family of covers to address the special case of determining when X and Y are isomorphic. We also discuss an application to factoring polynomials over finite fields.Comment: 8 page

Discrete logarithms in curves over finite fields

A survey on algorithms for computing discrete logarithms in Jacobians of curves over finite fields

Examples of CM curves of genus two defined over the reflex field

In "Proving that a genus 2 curve has complex multiplication", van Wamelen lists 19 curves of genus two over $\mathbf{Q}$ with complex multiplication (CM). For each of the 19 curves, the CM-field turns out to be cyclic Galois over $\mathbf{Q}$. The generic case of non-Galois quartic CM-fields did not feature in this list, as the field of definition in that case always contains a real quadratic field, known as the real quadratic subfield of the reflex field. We extend van Wamelen's list to include curves of genus two defined over this real quadratic field. Our list therefore contains the smallest "generic" examples of CM curves of genus two. We explain our methods for obtaining this list, including a new height-reduction algorithm for arbitrary hyperelliptic curves over totally real number fields. Unlike Van Wamelen, we also give a proof of our list, which is made possible by our implementation of denominator bounds of Lauter and Viray for Igusa class polynomials.Comment: 31 pages; Updated some reference

On the reducibility type of trinomials

Say a trinomial x^n+A x^m+B \in \Q[x] has reducibility type $(n_1,n_2,...,n_k)$ if there exists a factorization of the trinomial into irreducible polynomials in \Q[x] of degrees $n_1$, $n_2$,...,$n_k$, ordered so that $n_1 \leq n_2 \leq ... \leq n_k$. Specifying the reducibility type of a monic polynomial of fixed degree is equivalent to specifying rational points on an algebraic curve. When the genus of this curve is 0 or 1, there is reasonable hope that all its rational points may be described; and techniques are available that may also find all points when the genus is 2. Thus all corresponding reducibility types may be described. These low genus instances are the ones studied in this paper.Comment: to appear in Acta Arithmetic

Computing canonical heights using arithmetic intersection theory

For several applications in the arithmetic of abelian varieties it is important to compute canonical heights. Following Faltings and Hriljac, we show how the canonical height on the Jacobian of a smooth projective curve can be computed using arithmetic intersection theory on a regular model of the curve in practice. In the case of hyperelliptic curves we present a complete algorithm that has been implemented in Magma. Several examples are computed and the behavior of the running time is discussed.Comment: 29 pages. Fixed typos and minor errors, restructured some sections. Added new Example