Counting isomorphism classes of pointed hyperelliptic curves of genus 4 over finite fields with odd characteristic (Q932825)

Let \(X\) be a nonsingular, projective, hyperelliptic curve defined over a finite field of odd characteristic, and which admits a rational point fixed by the hyperelliptic involution (these are called ``pointed hyperelliptic curves''). In this paper the authors determine the number of isomorphism classes of such curves in the case where the genus of the curve is 4. The main result is proved using a theorem by \textit{P. Lockhart} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 342, No. 2, 729--852 (1994; Zbl 0815.11031)] which states that there is a one-to-one correspondence between isomorphism classes of pointed hyperelliptic curves and equivalence classes of certain equations (the so-called ``Weierstrass equations''). The results in this paper are motivated by applications of hyperelliptic curves to cryptography.