Families of curves with Galois action and their \(L\)-functions (Q2343183)

The main object of the interesting paper is the \(L\)-function of the family of superelliptic curves representing by the affine equation \(y^r = (x - f_1(t)) \cdots (x - f_d(t)) \), where \(f_i(t)\) are pairwise distinct polynomials in \({\mathbb F}_q[t]\) and \(r > 1\) is a natural number dividing \(q - 1\). Let \(E/K\) be a superelliptic curve over \(K = {\mathbb F}_q(t)\) and \({\mathcal E} \to {\mathbb P}^1\) its model. The author assumes that all singularities of \({\mathcal E}\) are rational and gives conditions ensuring this. Let \(K\) be a field. It is well known by Grothendieck and others that the Jacobian of the algebraic curve \(C/K\) is nice motivic object: \(J_{C/K} = \mathrm{Ext}^1_{\mathrm{Mot}}({\mathbb Z},H^1(C,{\mathbb Z}(1)))\). The author explores this motivic interpretation, develops and applies a new general technique for constructing the \(L\)-function and obtaining upper bounds on the analytic rank of the corresponding Jacobian. He extends results of \textit{C. Hall} [J. Number Theory 119, No. 1, 128--147 (2006; Zbl 1144.11051)] to families of superelliptic curves. The approach is based on the resolution of singularities of models of relative curves by \textit{J. Lipman} [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 36, 195--279 (1969; Zbl 0181.48903)] such that the model has only rational singularities, on equivariant \(L\)-functions and on the cohomology of trivial modules, a technique developed by the author and \textit{C. D. Popescu} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2012, No. 5, 986--1036 (2012; Zbl 1254.11063)]. The paper ends with consequences on the degree of \(L\)-functions and the ramification divisor. Five interesting examples classes of curves and their \(L\)-functions also are given.