The Carlitz shtuka (Q626829)

Let \(k\) be a finite field of \(q\) elements, \(A=k[t]\) the ring of functions regular away from the point at infinity \(\infty\in{\mathbb P}^1\) the projective line over \(k\). Let \(X\) be a smooth projective geometrically connected curve over \(k\) and \(X\to{\mathbb P}^1\) a surjective map, \({\mathcal O}_X(\infty)\) the pullback on \(X\) of the sheaf of functions on \( {\mathbb P}^1\) that have at most a simple pole at \(\infty\). Let \({\mathcal C}\) be the Carlitz sheaf on \(X\). The author proves that there is a short exact sequence of sheaves of \(A\)-modules on \(X\) \[ 0\to{\mathcal O}_X\otimes A \to {\mathcal O}_X(\infty)\otimes A \to {\mathcal C}\to 0 \] with the map \[ {\mathcal O}_X\otimes A \to {\mathcal O}_X(\infty)\otimes A,f\otimes a\mapsto f\otimes ta-(tf+f^q) \otimes a. \] As a formal consequence one obtains natural isomorphisms \[ \text{Ext}^i({\mathbf 1},{\mathcal C})\to H^{i-1}(X,{\mathcal C}) \] for all \(i\), where \textbf{1} is the unit shtuka on \(X\). Let \(Y\subset X\) be the inverse image of \(\text{Spec}(A)={\mathbb P}^1-\infty\). The image of the restriction map \({\mathcal C}(X)\to {\mathcal C}(Y)\) is a Carlitz analogue of the group of units in a number field. \( H^1(X,{\mathcal C})\) is a Carlitz analogue of the class group of a number field.