On algebraic curves \(A(x)-B(y)=0\) of genus zero (Q1706091)

Consider two complex polynomials \(A\) and \(B\), and define the irreducible algebraic curve of genus zero having the form \(\mathcal E_{A,B}:A(x)-B(y) = 0\). The interest of these curves is highlighted by the paper under review in two ways, one in number theory because many Diophantine equations have this form for \(A,B\in\mathbb Q(z)\), and the other one in the study of functional equations when \(A, B\in\mathbb C(z)\). In these last terms, the genus of \(\mathcal E_{A,B}\) is zero if and only if there exist \(C,D\in\mathbb C(z)\) such that \(A\circ C=B\circ D\). The author studies curves \(\mathcal E_{A,B}\) where \(A\) and \(B\) are rational functions, and \(\mathcal E_{A,B}\) is given by the numerator of \(A(x)-B(y)\) equated to zero, and restricting besides to the irreducible case. Then, a rational function \(A\) is said to be a basis of series of curves of genus zero if there exists a sequence of rational functions \(B_i\) such that \(\deg B_i \rightarrow\infty\) and all the curves \(A(x) - B_i(y)\) are irreducible of genus zero. Theorem 1 characterizes this fact, by proving that a rational function \(A\) is such a basis if and only if the Galois closure of \(\mathbb C(z)/\mathbb C(A)\) has genus zero or one. The second feature of the paper is to study the genus of \(\mathcal E_{A,B}\). It can be calculated in terms of the ramifications of \(A\) and \(B\), but the resulting formula is difficult to apply directly. Then, Theorem 2 gives a lower bound for the genus of \(\mathcal E_{A,B}\) in terms of the degrees of \(A\) and \(B\), excepting just the case when the Galois closure of \(\mathbb C(z)/\mathbb C(A)\) has genus zero or one. The approach of the paper is geometric, using Riemann surface orbifolds.