Counting periodic points on quotient varieties over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) (Q1786708)

Let \(V\) be a quasiprojective variety defined over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) and let \(\phi : V \to V\) be an endomorphism of \(V\) that is also defined over \(\mathbb{F}_q\). Let \(G\) be a finite subgroup of \(\text{Aut}_{\mathbb{F}_q}\) such that \(\phi\) commutes with every element of \(G\). The author proves that the number of \(\mathbb{F}_q\)-points on the quotient variety \(V/G\) can be expressed in terms of the number of \(\mathbb{F}_q\)-points on each of the \(G\)-twists of \(V\), and that a similar relation holds for the number of \(\mathbb{F}_q\)-periodic points. \textit{E. Kani} and \textit{M. Rosen} have proven that idempotent relations in the group ring \(\mathbb{Q}[G]\) lead to point-counting relations for \(V\) and its quotients by finite subgroups of \(G\) [J. Number Theory 46, No. 2, 230--254; (1994; Zbl 0853.14011)]. In this paper, the author proves that an analogous relation holds for periodic point counts, which implies the earlier result. Kani and Rosen prove their results using certain \(\zeta\)- and \(L\)-functions. The author defines the \textit{periodic zeta function} and \textit{periodic \(L\)-function} for \(\phi\) and proves analogues in this setting of the main \(\zeta\)- and \(L\)-function relations used in the earlier paper. The final section of this paper contains a helpful extended example illustrating the main results.