Computational aspects of gonal maps and radical parametrization of curves (Q386411)

The authors consider the theory of gonality of a projective curve \({\mathcal C}\). The gonality of such a curve is the least integer \(d\) for which there exists a \(d:1\) morphism to the projective line. A gonal map is such a morphism of least degree. An algorithm is developed for determining such a gonal map for a given curve \({\mathcal C}\). Such gonal maps are closely related to radical parametrizations of irreducible projective curves. An algorithm for determining the gonality of a curve can be used for deciding whether the gonality does not exceed 4. In this case the algorithm for computing a gonal map can be turned into an algorithm for computing a radical parametrization of the corresponding curve, as long as the characteristic of the coefficient field is different from 2 and 3.