On the Davenport-Hasse curves (Q2530057)

Let \(p\) be any prime number, and let \(C_a\) be the curve defined by the equation \[ y^p - y = x^{p^a - 1}\qquad (a=1,2,\ldots) \] over the prime field \(\mathrm{GF}(p)\). If \(\theta\) is a primitive \((p^a - 1)(p - 1)\)-th root of unity in the algebraic closure of \(\mathrm{GF}(p)\), let \(\sigma\) be the automorphism of \(C_a\) defined by \(\sigma(x,y)= (\theta x, \theta^{p^a - 1}y)\), and let \(G\) be the cyclic group generated by \(\sigma\). The author determines the \(l\)-adic representation of \(G\) for any prime \(l\ne p\). Also, using recent work of Tate, he investigates the simple factors of the Jacobian variety \(J_a\) of \(C_a\), and, in the case \(a=1\), he describes completely the decomposition of \(J_a\) into simple factors. Finally, he describes the endomorphism algebra of a certain simple factor of \(J_a\).