Coverings of graded pointed Hopf algebras

We introduce the concept of a covering of a graded pointed Hopf algebra. The theory developed shows that coverings of a bosonized Nichols algebra can be concretely expressed by biproducts using a quotient of the universal coalgebra covering group of the Nichols algebra. If there are enough quadratic relations, the universal coalgebra covering is given by the bosonization by the enveloping group of the underlying rack.Comment: to appear in J. of Algebr

Hurwitz spaces of quadruple coverings of elliptic curves and the moduli space of abelian threefolds A_3(1,1,4)

We prove that the moduli space A_3(1,1,4) of polarized abelian threefolds with polarization of type (1,1,4) is unirational. By a result of Birkenhake and Lange this implies the unirationality of the isomorphic moduli space A_3(1,4,4). The result is based on the study the Hurwitz space H_{4,n}(Y) of quadruple coverings of an elliptic curve Y simply branched in n points. We prove the unirationality of its codimension one subvariety H^{0}_{4,A}(Y) which parametrizes quadruple coverings \pi:X --> Y with Tschirnhausen modules isomorphic to A^{-1}, where A\in Pic^{n/2}Y, and for which \pi^*:J(Y)--> J(X) is injective. This is an analog of the result of Arbarello and Cornalba that the Hurwitz space H_{4,n}(P^1) is unirational.Comment: 28 pages, amslatex, to appear in Mathematische Nachrichte

Covering functors without groups

Coverings in the representation theory of algebras were introduced for the Auslander-Reiten quiver of a representation finite algebra by Riedtmann and later for finite dimensional algebras by Bongartz and Gabriel, R. Martinez-Villa and de la Pe\~na. The best understood class covering functors is that of Galois covering functors F: A -> B determined by the action of a group of automorphisms of A. In this work we introduce the balanced covering functors which include the Galois class and for which classical Galois covering-type results still hold. For instance, if F:A -> B is a balanced covering functor, where A and B are linear categories over an algebraically closed field, and B is tame, then A is tame.Comment: Some improvements have been made; in particular, the proof of Theorem 2 has been restructured and clarifie

Algebraic functions with even monodromy

Let $X$ be a compact Riemann surface of genus $g$ and $d\geq 12g+4$ be an integer. We show that $X$ admits meromorphic functions with monodromy group equal to the alternating group $A_d.

Hurwitz spaces of triple coverings of elliptic curves and moduli spaces of abelian threefolds

We prove that the moduli spaces A_3(D) of polarized abelian threefolds with polarizations of types D=(1,1,2), (1,2,2), (1,1,3) or (1,3,3) are unirational. The result is based on the study of families of simple coverings of elliptic curves of degree 2 or 3 and on the study of the corresponding period mappings associated with holomorphic differentials with trace 0. In particular we prove the unirationality of the Hurwitz space H_{3,A}(Y) which parameterizes simply branched triple coverings of an elliptic curve Y with determinants of the Tschirnhausen modules isomorphic to A^{-1}.Comment: 43 pages, latex2e, some typos corrected, references updated, to appear in Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicat