The local and global zeta functions of Gauss's curve (Q2340844)

In this paper, the authors consider the singular curve \(C\subset \mathbb P^2\) over \(\mathbb F_p\), \(p\) prime, defined by the equation \[ x^2t^2+y^2t^2+x^2y^2-t^4=0. \] This curve is known as Gauss's curve. If \(p\) is a prime such that \(p=a^2+b^2\equiv 1\pmod 4\) with \(a+bi\equiv 1 \pmod{2+2i}\), C. F. Gauss claimed the number of all solutions of the congruence \(x^2+y^2+x^2y^2 \equiv 1 \pmod p\) is \((a-1)^2+b^2\), where the two double points at infinity were counted as four points. This is the last entry C. F. Gauss made in his mathematical diary on July 9, 1814. In 1921, \textit{G. Herglotz} [Leipz. Ber. 73, 271--276 (1921; JFM 48.0436.02)] determined the zeta function of \(C\) over \(\mathbb F_p\) (which gives the number of rational points of \(C\) over \(\mathbb F_{p^n}\) for all \(n\)) for \(p\equiv 1 \pmod 4\), with \(p=a^2+b^2\), \(b\) even and \(a\equiv (-1)^{b/2}\pmod 4\). For \(p\equiv 3 \pmod 4\), \textit{F. Lemmermeyer} [Reciprocity laws. From Euler to Eisenstein. Berlin: Springer (2000; Zbl 0949.11002)] proved \(C(\mathbb F_p)\) has \(p+1\) points. In this paper, the authors expand his work to count points of \(C\) over \(\mathbb F_{p^n}\) by considering a projective nonsingular model of \(C\) over \(\mathbb F_{p^2}\), and they show its zeta function is \[ Z_C(u)=\dfrac{(1+pu^2)(1+u)^2}{(1-pu)(1-u)}. \] The authors also extend the definition of the (Hasse-Weil) global zeta function to geometric genus 1 singular curves and compute the global zeta function of \(C\).