On the classification of algebraic function fields of class number three (Q658114)

Let \(F/{\mathbb F}_q\) be an algebraic function field of genus \(g\). One of the many interesting features of these fields is its application for the construction of a large class of useful codes. Let \(h\) denote the class number of \(F\). If \(g=0\), then \(F\) is a rational function field so that \(h=1\). \textit{R. E. MacRae} [J. Algebra 17, 243--261 (1971; Zbl 0212.53302)] classified the congruence function fields with \(h=1\) which are quadratic and have a place of degree one. The case \(h=1\) was completed by \textit{J. R. C. Leitzel, M. L. Madan} and \textit{C. S. Queen} [Acta Arith. 20, 423--432 (1972; Zbl 0237.12007); J. Number Theory 7, 11--27 (1975; Zbl 0318.12009); Acta Arith. 30, 167--177 (1976; Zbl 0359.12017)]. The case \(h=2\) was solved by \textit{D. Le Brigand} [Proceedings of the international conference held at CIRM, Luminy, France, June 28--July 2, 1993. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 105--126 (1996; Zbl 0872.11049); Finite Fields Appl. 2, No. 2, 153--172 (1996; Zbl 0931.11051)]. In the paper under review the author studies the case \(h=3\). The main result is that for \(q\geq 3\), up to \({\mathbb F}_q\)--isomorphism there are exactly 8 congruence function fields \(F/{\mathbb F}_q\) with class number \(h=3\). The case \(q=2, h=3\) is also studied here. It is proved that there are only 3 function fields with \(q=2, h=3\) and \(1\leq g\leq 2\) and there are 3 quadratic function fields with \(q=2, h=3\) and \(3\leq g\leq 6\). Finally, when \(q=2\) and either \(g=5\) or \(g\geq 7\) it is shown that there is no function field with \(h=3\). Thus the only cases remaining to be solved completely in the case \(q=2, h=3\) are \(g=3,4\) and \(6\) (\(F\) non-quadratic). Some tools used in the proofs are, similarly to cases \(h=1\) and \(2\), the use of the Hasse--Weil Riemann zeta function, and the relation between the number of divisors of degree \(n\) and the coefficients of the polynomial given in the numerator of the zeta function. The author presents explicitly, up to isomorphism, all the fields satisfying the above conditions.