The number of rational points of a class of Artin-Schreier curves. (Q1867453)

Let \({\mathbb F}_q\) denote the finite field with \(q=p^e\) elements. The author determines the number of \({\mathbb F}_q\)-rational points of the Artin-Schreier curve \(y^{p^n}-y=ax^{{p^\alpha}+1}+L(x)\), where \(a\in {\mathbb F}_q^\times\), \(t=\) gcd\((n,e)\) divides gcd\((\alpha,e)\), and \(L\in {\mathbb F}_q[X]\) is a \(p^t\)-polynomial. The proof uses earlier results by the author [Acta Arith. 86, No. 3, 217--226 (1998; Zbl 0917.11061)] giving the values of exponential sums involving \(ax^{{p^\alpha}+1}+bx\). The author then gives necessary and sufficient conditions for these curves to attain the Hasse-Weil bound. When these conditions are satisfied, the curve is maximal if \(e/2\alpha\) is odd and minimal if \(e/2\alpha\) is even. This gives infinitely many new examples of maximal and minimal plane curves. Some related results have been obtained by \textit{J. Wolfmann} [Commun. Algebra 17, No. 8, 2055--2060 (1989; Zbl 0699.14027)].