Stable modification of relative curves

We generalize theorems of Deligne-Mumford and de Jong on semi-stable modifications of families of proper curves. The main result states that after a generically \'etale alteration of the base any (not necessarily proper) family of multipointed curves with semi-stable generic fiber admits a minimal semi-stable modification. The latter can also be characterized by the property that its geometric fibers have no certain exceptional components. The main step of our proof is uniformization of one-dimensional extensions of valued fields. Riemann-Zariski spaces are then used to obtain the result over any integral base.Comment: 60 pages, third version, the paper was revised due to referee's report, section 2 was divided into sections 2 and 6, to appear in JA

Splitting Behavior of SnS_n-Polynomials

We analyze the probability that, for a fixed finite set of primes S, a random, monic, degree n polynomial f(x) with integer coefficients in a box of side B around 0 satisfies: (i) f(x) is irreducible over the rationals, with splitting field over the rationals having Galois group $S_n$; (ii) the polynomial discriminant Disc(f) is relatively prime to all primes in S; (iii) f(x) has a prescribed splitting type at each prime p in S. The limit probabilities as $B \to \infty$ are described in terms of values of a one-parameter family of measures on $S_n$, called splitting measures, with parameter $z$ evaluated at the primes p in S. We study properties of these measures. We deduce that there exist degree n extensions of the rationals with Galois closure having Galois group $S_n$ with a given finite set of primes S having given Artin symbols, with some restrictions on allowed Artin symbols for p<n. We compare the distributions of these measures with distributions formulated by Bhargava for splitting probabilities for a fixed prime $p$ in such degree $n$ extensions ordered by size of discriminant, conditioned to be relatively prime to $p$.Comment: 33 pages, v2 34 pages, introduction revise

A generalization of Voronoi's reduction theory and its application

We consider Voronoi's reduction theory of positive definite quadratic forms which is based on Delone subdivision. We extend it to forms and Delone subdivisions having a prescribed symmetry group. Even more general, the theory is developed for forms which are restricted to a linear subspace in the space of quadratic forms. We apply the new theory to complete the classification of totally real thin algebraic number fields which was recently initiated by Bayer-Fluckiger and Nebe. Moreover, we apply it to construct new best known sphere coverings in dimensions 9,..., 15.Comment: 31 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, (v4) minor changes, to appear in Duke Math.