We show that if f: X --> Y is a finite, separable morphism of smooth curves defined over a finite field F_q, where q is larger than an explicit constant depending only on the degree of f and the genus of X, then f maps X(F_q) surjectively onto Y(F_q) if and only if f maps X(F_q) injectively into Y(F_q). Surprisingly, the bounds on q for these two implications have different orders of magnitude. The main tools used in our proof are the Chebotarev density theorem for covers of curves over finite fields, the Castelnuovo genus inequality, and ideas from Galois theory.
We carry out an arithmetical study of analytic functions $f: [0,1] \to [0,1]$ that by restriction induce a bijection $\mathbb{Q} \cap [0,1] \to \mathbb{Q} \cap [0,1]$. The existence of such functions shows that, unless $f(x)$ has some additional property of an algebraic nature, very little can be said about the distribution of rational points on its graph. Some more refined questions involving heights are also explored.
For each odd prime power q, we construct an infinite sequence of rational functions f(X) in F_q(X), each of which is exceptional, which means that for infinitely many n the map c-->f(c) induces a bijection of P^1(F_{q^n}). Moreover, each of our functions f(X) is indecomposable, which means that it cannot be written as the composition of lower-degree rational functions in F_q(X). In case q is not a power of 3, these are the first known examples of indecomposable exceptional rational functions f(X) over F_q which have non-solvable monodromy groups and have arbitrarily large degree. These are als…
We show that every exceptional Lie algebra over a number field can be obtained by Tits' construction from an octonion algebra O and a cubic Jordan algebra J. In particular, the exceptional Lie algebra contains a dual pair which is the direct sum of the derivation algebras of O and J. We determine rational forms of this dual pair.
A permutation rational function $f\in \mathbb{F}_q(x)$ is a rational function that induces a bijection on $\mathbb{F}_q$, that is, for all $y\in\mathbb{F}_q$ there exists exactly one $x\in\mathbb{F}_q$ such that $f(x)=y$. Permutation rational functions are intimately related to exceptional rational functions, and more generally exceptional covers of the projective line, of which they form the first important example. In this paper, we show how to efficiently generate many permutation rational functions over large finite fields using isogenies of elliptic curves, and discuss some cryptographic …
Manin's Conjecture predicts the rate of growth of rational points of a bounded height after removing those lying on an exceptional set. We study whether the exceptional set in Manin's Conjecture is a thin set.
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic not equal to $2,3$, $\mathbb{O}$ an octonion over $k$ and $\mathcal{J}$ the exceptional Jordan algebra defined by $\mathbb{O}$. We consider the prehomogeneous vector space $(G,V)$ where $G=GE_6\times \mathrm{GL}(2)$ and $V=\mathcal{J}\oplus \mathcal{J}$. We prove that generic rational orbits of this prehomogeneous vector space are in bijective correspondence with $k$-isomorphism classes of pairs $(\mathcal{M},\mathfrak{n})$ where $\mathcal{M}$'s are isotopes of $\mathcal{J}$ and $\mathfrak{n}$'s are cubic étale subalgebras of $\mathcal{M}$. Also we prove th…
If $α$ is a non-zero algebraic number, we let $m(α)$ denote the Mahler measure of the minimal polynomial of $α$ over $\mathbb Z$. A series of articles by Dubickas and Smyth, and later by the author, develop a modified version of the Mahler measure called the $t$-metric Mahler measure, denoted $m_t(α)$. For fixed $α\in \bar{\mathbb Q}$, the map $t\mapsto m_t(α)$ is continuous, and moreover, is infinitely differentiable at all but finitely many points, called {\it exceptional points} for $α$. It remains open to determine whether there is a sequence of elements $α_n\in \bar{\mathbb Q}$ such that …
We compute the rational points on the Atkin-Lehner quotient $X^+_0(125)$ using the quadratic Chabauty method. Our work completes the study of exceptional rational points on the curves $X^+_0(N)$ of genus between 2 and 6. Together with the work of several authors, this completes the proof of a conjecture of Galbraith.
Let $μ_{q+1}$ denote the set of $(q+1)$-th roots of unity in $\mathbb{F}_{q^2 }$. We construct permutation polynomials over $\mathbb{F}_{q^2}$ by using rational functions of any degree that induce bijections either on $μ_{q+1}$ or between $μ_{q+1}$ and $\mathbb{F}_q \cup \{\infty\}$. In particular, we generalize results from Zieve.
The exceptional zero conjecture relates the first derivative of the $p$-adic $L$-function of a rational elliptic curve with split multiplicative reduction at $p$ to its complex $L$-function. Teitelbaum formulated an analogue of Mazur and Tate's refined (multiplicative) version of this conjecture for elliptic curves over the rational function field $\FQ(T)$ with split multiplicative reduction at two places $\fp$ and $\infty$, avoiding the construction of a $\fp$-adic $L$-function. This article proves Teitelbaum's conjecture up to roots of unity by developing Darmon's theory of double integrals …
In 1923 Schur considered the following problem. Let f(X) be a polynomial with integer coefficients that induces a bijection on the residue fields Z/pZ for infinitely many primes p. His conjecture, that such polynomials are compositions of linear and Dickson polynomials, was proved by M. Fried in 1970. Here we investigate the analogous question for rational functions, also we allow the base field to be any number field. As a result, there are many more rational functions for which the analogous property holds. Some infinite series come from rational isogenies of elliptic curves and deformations…
We use the method of quadratic Chabauty on the quotients $X_0^+(N)$ of modular curves $X_0(N)$ by their Fricke involutions to provably compute all the rational points of these curves for prime levels $N$ of genus four, five, and six. We find that the only such curves with exceptional rational points are of levels $137$ and $311$. In particular there are no exceptional rational points on those curves of genus five and six. More precisely, we determine the rational points on the curves $X_0^+(N)$ for $N=137,173,199,251,311,157,181,227,263,163,197,211,223,269,271,359$.
Given a quintic number field $K/\mathbb{Q}$, we study the set of irreducible trinomials, polynomials of the form $x^{5} + ax + b$, that have a root in $K$. We show that there is a genus four curve $C_{K}$ whose rational points are in bijection with such trinomials. This curve $C_{K}$ maps to an elliptic curve defined over a number field, and using this map, we are able (in some cases) to determine all the rational points on $C_{K}$ using elliptic curve Chabauty.
