Curves of large genus covered by the hermitian curve (Q4515484)

Let \(F\) be a finite field of square order \(q^2\). The Hermitian curve over \(F\) is the projective nonsingular model of the equation \(Y^q+Y=X^{q+1}\), which is known to be the unique curve of the largest genus belonging to the ``maximal curves'' -- curves attaining the Hasse-Weil upper bound of the number of the \(F\)-rational points. It is expected that most maximal curves should be dominated by the Hermitian curve. In this paper, the quotient curves of the Hermitian curve by the prime degree automoprhims are classified. The corresponding groups are detected as explicit subgroups of \(PGU(3,F)\) identified with the total automorphism group of the Hermitian curve. In the last section, the ``third largest genus problem'' for the maximal curves over \(F\) is discussed.