Explicit solution by radicals, gonal maps and plane models of algebraic curves of genus 5 or 6 (Q1940918)

Let us say that a complex algebraic curve \(C\) is solvable by radicals if its function field is a solvable extension of a function field of genus zero. It has been shown in [\textit{O. Zariski}, Rendiconti Accad. d. L. Roma (6) 3, 660--666 (1926; JFM 52.0652.05)] that generic curves of genus greater than 6 are not solvable by radicals. The main result in this paper is an algorithm for finding, for a given curve \(C\) of degree \(5\) or \(6\), a map \(C\to{\mathbb P}^1\) of degree at most 4. Since equations of degree at most 4 are solvable by formulas of Cardano and Ferrera, a parameterization by radicals can then be constructed. As a side result, if \(C\) has genus 6 and is tetragonal, then a birational map to a plane sextic with double points is constructed.