On the number of points on a complete intersection over a finite field. (Appendix: Number of points on singular complete intersections by Nicholas M. Katz) (Q805659)

Let V be a projective complete intersection of dimension n, defined over a finite field F with q elements. Then it is shown that V has \[ \frac{q^{n+1}-1}{q-1}+O(q^{(n+d+1)/2}) \] points in F, where d is the dimension of the singular locus of V. This elegant estimate generalizes the famous result of \textit{P. Deligne} [Publ. Math. Inst. Hautes Etud. Sci. 43, 273-307 (1974; Zbl 0287.14001)] for the singular case \(d=-1\). Two proofs, using Deligne's theorem, are given. Both are variants of the natural line of attack via hyperplane sections. In an appendix by Katz a third, cohomological, proof is presented.