Automorphisms of curves fixing the order two points of the Jacobian (Q934654)

Let \(X\) denote an irreducible smooth projective curve of genus at least two defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic different from \(2\). In the paper under review, the authors show that if \(\sigma \colon X\rightarrow X\) is a non-trivial automorphism that fixes pointwise all the theta characteristics on \(X\), then \(X\) is hyperelliptic and \(\sigma\) is the hyperelliptic involution. \textit{I. Biswas, S. Gadgil} and \textit{P. Sankaran} [Bull. Sci. Math. 131, No. 5, 493--499 (2007; Zbl 1119.14027)] presented a topological proof for the same result in the special case where \(X\) is a compact Riemann surface of genus at least \(2\). In the paper under review, an algebraic proof is provided for this more general case. The authors prove the result by showing that if \(\sigma \colon X\rightarrow X\) is a non-trivial automorphism of \(X\) that fixes all the order \(2\) points in \(\text{ Pic}^{0}(X)\), then \(X\) is hyperelliptic and \(\sigma\) is the hyperelliptic involution.