Generally rational polynomials in two variables (Q2341652)

A polynomial \(F\in\mathbf{k}[x,y]\) in two variables over an algebraically closed field \(\mathbf{k}\) is said to be \textit{generally rational} if its general level surfaces \(F=\lambda\) in the affine plane \(\mathbb{A}_{\mathbf{k}}^{2}\) are rational. When \(\mathbf{k}\) is of characteristic zero, it is known (see e.g. [\textit{M. Miyanishi} and \textit{T. Sugie}, Osaka J. Math. 17, 339--362 (1980; Zbl 0457.13006)]) that this property is equivalent to fact that \(F\) is a so-called \textit{field generator}, in the sense that there exists \(G\in\mathbf{k}(x,y)\) such that \(\mathbf{k}(F,G)=\mathbf{k}(x,y)\). In the the article under review, the author investigates the relation between the concepts of field generator and generally rational polynomial over fields of positive characteristic. He establishes in particular that for a field \(\mathbf{k}\) of characteristic \(p>0\), an element \(F\in\mathbf{k}[x,y]\) is generally rational if and only \(F\not\in\mathbf{k}[x,y]^{p}\) and there exists \(G\in\mathbf{k}(x,y)\) such that \(\mathbf{k}(x,y)\) is a purely inseparable extension of \(\mathbf{k}(F,G)\). Some geometric criteria to decide when such an \(F\) is actually a genuine field generator are also given.