Plane curves with many points over finite fields (Q1767341)

Let \(k=\mathbb F_p\) be the finite field of prime order \(p>2\) and \(f(x,y)\) a polynomial in \(k[x,y]\) of degree \(d<p\). Suppose that \(f(x,y)\) does not have a linear component defined over \(k\). In [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III Ser. 52, 1--19 (1986; Zbl 0593.14020)] \textit{K.-O. Stöhr} and \textit{J. F. Voloch} noticed that the number of solutions of the curve \(f(x,y)=0\) in \(k^2\) is upper bounded by \(\Delta:=d(p+d-1)/2\), provided that \(f(x,y)\) is absolutely irreducible and \(f\) does not divide \(f_{xx}(f_y)^2-2f_{xy}f_xf_y+f_{yy}(f_x)\). In the paper under review, the authors show that the same bound is true for any \(f\) satisfiyng the linearity condition. Moreover, the curve is nonsingular if equality holds. For \(p\equiv 1\pmod{1}\), examples of curves attaining \(\Delta\) can be obtained by slicing the surface \(w^{(p-1)/2}+y^{(p-1)/2}-z^{(p-1)/2}-x^{(p-1)/2}=0\) by the plane \(w=y+cz\) with \(c\) a nonsquare in \(\mathbb F_p\). Such a surface has many points for its degree; see [\textit{J. F. Voloch}, Contemp. Math. 324, 219--226 (2003; Zbl 1040.11046)]. For \(p\equiv 3\mod{4}\) the authors also point out explicit examples of curves attaining \(\Delta\). In particular, the case \(p=11\) and \(d=4\) give an example of an optimal curve of genus 3 over \(\mathbb F_{11}\) which previously was noticed by Serre via a not explicit construction. By general methods one can improve \(\Delta\) for \(d<p/15\) or \(d\geq p\). The authors ask whether or not the bound \(\Delta\) is attained for \(p/15\leq d <p\).