Linear growth for Châtelet surfaces (Q2655148)

In this paper the author proves an upper bound on the expected number of points of bounded height on Châtelet surfaces defined over \(\mathbb{Q}\). Namely, let \(X\) be the rational surface defined by a smooth proper model of the affine surface \(y^2-az=f(x)\), where \(a\in\mathbb{Z}\) is not a square and \(f(x)\in\mathbb{Z}[x]\) is separable of degree~3 or 4. The main result is Theorem~1: Let \(\rho_X\) be the rank of the Picard group of \(X\) and for a real number \(B\) let \(N(B)\) be the number of points \(x\in X(\mathbb{Q})\) such that \(H(\psi(x))\leq B\), where \(\psi:X\to\mathbb{P}^4\) is the map corresponding to the anticanonical bundle on \(X\) and \(H\) is the exponential height on \(\mathbb{P}^4\) metrized by some choice of norm. Then \[ N(B)=\mathcal{O}\left(B(\log B)^{\rho_X-1}\right) \] if \(a<0\). This result is predicted by the Manin conjecture. The proof of Theorem~1 uses a method originally due to Selberger and crucially relies on the conic bundle structure of \(X/\mathbb{P}^1\). This allows the author to reduce the counting problem on \(X\) to a counting problem on the corresponding conics over \(p\in\mathbb{P}^1\). The latter is solved by computing the average order of a certain arithmetic function \(\bar{\omega}\) as it ranges over binary quartic forms using a result due to the author and \textit{R. de la Bretèche} [Acta Arith. 125, No. 3, 291--304 (2007; Zbl 1159.11035)] from analytic number theory. It should be noted that in joint work with \textit{R. de la Bretèche} and \textit{E. Peyre} [Ann. Math. (2) 175, No. 1, 297--343 (2012; Zbl 1237.11018)], the author has verified the full Manin conjecture, including the constant predicted by Peyre, in the special case \(a=-1\) and \(f\) totally reducible of degree 3.