A characterization of the Artin-Mumford curve (Q2343182)

Let \(\mathbb{F}_p\) be a finite prime field of odd characteristic, and let \(M\) be the Artin--Mumford curve \((x^p - x) (y^p - y) = 1\) over \(\mathbb{F}_p\). In this paper, the authors characterize \(M\) up to birational equivalence as the unique curve over \(\mathbb{F}_p\) with the following properties: {\parindent=0.6cm\begin{itemize}\item[--] \(M\) is projective, non-singular, and geometrically irreducible; \item[--] \(M\) has genus \((p - 1)^2\); \item[--] \(\text{Aut}_{\mathbb{F}_p} (M)\) contains a subgroup isomorphic to the semidirect product \((\mathbb{Z} / p \mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z} / p \mathbb{Z}) \rtimes D_{p - 1}\). \end{itemize}} In the course of proving this result, the authors also show the following. Let \(X\) be a curve over a finite field \(\mathbb{F}_q\) of odd prime characteristic \(p\). Assume that {\parindent=0.6cm\begin{itemize}\item[--] \(X\) is projective, non-singular, and geometrically irreducible; \item[--] \(X\) has genus \(p - 1\); \item[--] \(\text{Aut}_{\mathbb{F}_q} (X)\) contains a subgroup isomorphic to the product \(\mathbb{Z} / p \mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z} / 2 \mathbb{Z}\). \end{itemize}} Then \(X\) is an ordinary hyperelliptic curve. This statement allows the authors to sharpen the characterization of the curves \(y^p - y = a x + 1 / x\) considered in [\textit{G. van der Geer} and \textit{M. van der Vlugt}, Math. Ann. 290, No. 3, 549--563 (1991; Zbl 0731.14014)].