Small degree coverings of the affine line in characteristic two (Q1336682)

Let \(L_k\) be the affine line over an algebraically closed field \(k\), with char \(k = p \neq 0\). In a previous paper it has been conjectured by the first named author [Am. J. Math. 79, 825-856 (1957; Zbl 0087.036)] that the algebraic fundamental group \(\pi_A (L_k)\) (i.e. the set of finite Galois groups of unramified coverings of \(L_k)\) is the set \(Q(p)\) of all quasi \(p\)-groups (i.e. finite groups which are generated by all their \(p\)-Sylow subgroups), and it was shown that \(\pi_A (L_k) \subseteq Q (p)\). -- In particular, the conjecture would imply that \(\pi_A (L_k) \supseteq A_n\), the alternating group, for all \(n \geq p\) when \(p > 2\), and for all \(n \neq 3,4\) when \(p = 2\). Later this fact has been proved for \(p > 2\) and for \(p = 2\) and \(n \neq 3,4,6,7\) (see the preceding article by \textit{S. S. Abhyankar}, \textit{J. Ou} and \textit{A. Sathaye} in the same volume, reviewed above). This paper completes the study of the problem by giving explicit equations of unramified coverings of \(L_k\), with char \(k = 2\), which do have \(A_6\) and \(A_7\) as Galois groups. As in the other article of the volume cited above, the equations in question are among the ones found in the paper by the first author quoted above, and the matter is to prove that they are what is needed; this is done by using a particular form of Jacobson's criterion which works in every characteristic.