Point counting on curves using a gonality preserving lift

We study the problem of lifting curves from finite fields to number fields in a genus and gonality preserving way. More precisely, we sketch how this can be done efficiently for curves of gonality at most four, with an in-depth treatment of curves of genus at most five over finite fields of odd characteristic, including an implementation in Magma. We then use such a lift as input to an algorithm due to the second author for computing zeta functions of curves over finite fields using $p$-adic cohomology

Quantum indices and refined enumeration of real plane curves

We associate a half-integer number, called {\em the quantum index}, to algebraic curves in the real plane satisfying to certain conditions. The area encompassed by the logarithmic image of such curves is equal to $\pi^2$ times the quantum index of the curve and thus has a discrete spectrum of values. We use the quantum index to refine real enumerative geometry in a way consistent with the Block-G\"ottsche invariants from tropical enumerative geometry.Comment: Version 4: exposition improvement, particularly in the proof of Theorem 5 (following referee suggestions

Linear pencils encoded in the Newton polygon

Let $C$ be an algebraic curve defined by a sufficiently generic bivariate Laurent polynomial with given Newton polygon $\Delta$. It is classical that the geometric genus of $C$ equals the number of lattice points in the interior of $\Delta$. In this paper we give similar combinatorial interpretations for the gonality, the Clifford index and the Clifford dimension, by removing a technical assumption from a recent result of Kawaguchi. More generally, the method shows that apart from certain well-understood exceptions, every base-point free pencil whose degree equals or slightly exceeds the gonality is 'combinatorial', in the sense that it corresponds to projecting $C$ along a lattice direction. We then give an interpretation for the scrollar invariants associated to a combinatorial pencil, and show how one can tell whether the pencil is complete or not. Among the applications, we find that every smooth projective curve admits at most one Weierstrass semi-group of embedding dimension $2$, and that if a non-hyperelliptic smooth projective curve $C$ of genus $g \geq 2$ can be embedded in the $n$th Hirzebruch surface $\mathcal{H}_n$, then $n$ is actually an invariant of $C$.Comment: This covers and extends sections 1 to 3.4 of our previously posted article "On the intrinsicness of the Newton polygon" (arXiv:1304.4997), which will eventually become obsolete. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1304.499

A Viro Theorem without convexity hypothesis for trigonal curves

A cumbersome hypothesis for Viro patchworking of real algebraic curves is the convexity of the given subdivision. It is an open question in general to know whether the convexity is necessary. In the case of trigonal curves we interpret Viro method in terms of dessins d'enfants. Gluing the dessins d'enfants in a coherent way we prove that no convexity hypothesis is required to patchwork such curves.Comment: 26 pages, 18 figure