Normal distribution of bad reduction (Q6970013)

This paper establishes that, when ranging over hyperelliptic curves of fixed genus, the number of primes of bad semi-stable reduction follows a normal distribution. In addition, it is shown that, when ranging over plane curves of fixed degree, the number of primes of bad semi-stable reduction is likewise normally distributed.\N\NAs an immediate consequence, for any fixed integer \(N > 0\), a density-one subset of degree \(d\) hyperelliptic curves (respectively, plane curves) \(C\) possesses at least \(N\) primes \(p\) of bad semi-stable reduction.\N\NThe proofs build on and adapt methods developed by \textit{D. El-Baz} et al. [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 375, No. 5, 3089--3128 (2022; Zbl 1519.11050)].