On the intersection problem for linear sets in the projective line (Q2022142)

The authors derive conditions which assure that two linear sets of rank \(n\) in the projective line \(\mathrm{PG}(1,q^n)\) to have non-empty intersection. They translate the problem into the question whether a certain plane algebraic curve has at least one affine rational point over \(\mathbb{F}_{q^n}\) with nonzero coordinates. Then they use the machinery of function field theory, in particular the Hasse-Weil bound, to prove their results. As an application, they give asymptotic results on semifields of BEL-rank two.