A remark on the field of moduli of Riemann surfaces (Q2173312)

Let \(S\) be a closed Riemann surface of genus \(g \geq 2\), and Aut(\(S\)) its group of conformal automorphisms. The paper under review deals with the question whether \(S\) is definable over its field of moduli \(\mathcal{M}(S)\). On one hand, if Aut(\(S\)) is trivial or \(S/{\mathrm{Aut}}(S)\) is an orbifold of genus zero with exactly three cone points, then \(S\) is definable over \(\mathcal{M}(S)\). On the other hand, examples of surfaces not definable over their field of moduli are known both in the hyperelliptic and the non-hyperelliptic cases. The goal of this paper is to give an upper bound for the minimal degree extension of \(\mathcal{M}(S)\) by a field of definition of \(S\). This bound is obtained in terms of the quotient orbifold \(S/\mathrm{Aut}(S\)), and stated in the main Theorem 1. Part (II) of this Theorem provides a general upper bound \(2(g-1)\), while Part (I) gives more accurate bounds for special cases, for instance, (2) if \(S/{\mathrm{Aut}}(S)\) is of genus zero or hyperelliptic of even genus, and (4) if \(S/{\mathrm{Aut}}(S)\) is hyperelliptic of odd genus. As a corollary, if \(S\) is an \(n\)-gonal cyclic closed Riemann surface, the bound is 2. Section 4 of the paper is devoted to the study of some examples of quadrangular Riemann surfaces.