A descent map for curves with totally degenerate semi-stable reduction (Q1953847)

Let \(C\) be a curve over a local field \(K\) of residue characteristic \(p\). This paper studies the divisibility properties of the rational points on the Jacobian of \(C\), under the simplifying assumption that \(C\) has totally degenerate semi-stable reduction. Firstly, the paper gives a necessary and sufficient condition for a line bundle \(L\) on \(C\) to be \(r\)-divisible, when \(r\) is prime to \(p\). Clearly it is necessary that \(L\) be representable by a divisor \(D\) whose closure on the semi-stable reduction of \(C\) has degree divisible by \(r\) on each component. The main contribution of the paper is to provide a finer, sufficient condition. Secondly, the paper applies the condition above to certain hyperelliptic curves, in order to determine whether or not they have rational theta characteristic. Furthermore, for the hyperelliptic curves above, the author computes the full prime-to-\(p\) \(K\)-rational torsion group of the Jacobian. All the computations rely on the fact that the special fiber of the Néron model of the Jacobian of a curve \(C/K\) with totally degenerate semi-stable reduction is an extension of a finite group scheme by a torus. The author is able to prove his criterion by explicitly and carefully relating the character theory of the torus to the homology of the dual graph of the special fiber of a semi-stable model of \(C\).