Equal sums of two \(k\)th powers (Q1864862)

It was shown by the reviewer [Ann. Math. (2) 155, 553-595 (2002; Zbl 1039.11044)] that if \(F(x_1,x_2, x_3,x_4)\) is a nonsingular integral form of degree \(k\) then the surface \(F=0\) has \[ \ll_{k,\varepsilon} B^{1+\varepsilon}+ B^{3/\sqrt{k}+2/ (k-1)+\varepsilon} \] rational points of height at most \(B\), excluding any that lie on lines in the surface. Here \(\varepsilon\) may take any positive value. In general the term \(B^{1+\varepsilon}\) cannot be removed, since the surface may contain a quadratic curve, which could itself contribute \(\gg B\) points. The reviewer's result improved previously known bounds even for the special surfaces \(x_1^k+ x_2^k= x_3^k+ x_4^k\), as soon as \(k\geq 6\). The question arises whether the term \(B^{1+\varepsilon}\) might be removed in this special case, and the present paper shows that indeed one can give the superior bound \[ \ll_{k,\varepsilon} B^{2/3+\varepsilon}+ B^{3/\sqrt{k}+2/ (k-1)+\varepsilon} \] for the surface \[ ax_1^k+ bx_2^k= ax_3^k+ bx_4^k \] whenever \(a,b\) are nonzero integers, providing only that \(3\nmid k-1\) if \(a\neq b\). The proof depends on showing that, under the above condition on \(k\), no rational plane section of the surface can contain a curve of degree \(d\geq 2\) with \(d\leq k-3\) for \(k\) even, and \(d\leq k-4\) for \(k\) odd. This is established by an investigation of the rational points in the dual surface.