On discriminant functions associated to Drinfeld modules of rank 1 (Q1333249)

Let \(K/ \mathbb{F}_ q\) be a global function field with a fixed place \(\infty\), \(K_ \infty\) the completion, \(\Omega= \widehat {\overline {K}}_ \infty\) the completed algebraic closure, and \({\mathcal O}_ K\) the Dedekind ring of elements of \(K\) regular off \(\infty\). A lattice in \(\Omega\) is a finitely generated discrete \({\mathcal O}_ K\)-submodule \(\Gamma\) of \(\Omega\). With such a lattice \(\Gamma_ 1\) one can associate an entire \(\Gamma\)-periodic function \(e_ \Gamma: \Omega\to \Omega\). Since the work of \textit{V. G. Drinfeld} [Math. USSR, Sb. 23 (1974), 561- 592 (1976); translation from Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 94(136), 594-627 (1974; Zbl 0321.14014)] and \textit{D. R. Hayes} [Studies in algebra and number theory, Adv. Math., Suppl. Stud. 6, 173-217 (1979; Zbl 0476.12010)] it is known that, for \(\Gamma\) of \({\mathcal O}_ K\)-rank one, the arithmetic of \(e_ \Gamma\) (the structure of its functional equations, properties of division points \(e_ \Gamma (\rho)\), \(\rho\in k\Gamma \setminus \Gamma\)) is intimately related to the abelian class field theory of \(K\). In order to describe the precise relationship, one needs to dispose of the notions of (a) sign functions on \(K\) (i.e., certain maps from \(K\) to its residue field \(K(\infty)\)) and (b) discriminant functions on the set of rank one \({\mathcal O}_ K\)-lattices. In section two, the author develops various properties of these functions. In Proposition 2.11, he states a canonical bijection between the two sets of objects. (With different notations, this bijection already appears in [the reviewer, Drinfeld modular curves (Lect. Notes Math. 1231) (1986; Zbl 0607.14020), IV 4].) In his third section, he applies the correspondence to derive arithmetic properties of divison points \(e_ \Gamma (\rho)\). E.g., Theorem 3.2 states that for \(\rho_ 1, \rho_ 2\in k\Gamma \setminus \Gamma\), the ratio \(e_ \Gamma (\rho_ 1)/ e_ \Gamma (\rho_ 2)\) lies in \(K^{ab}=\) maximal abelian extension of \(K\) contained in \(K_ \infty\), and describes the Galois action.