scientific article; zbMATH DE number 193985

Let K be an algebraic function-field in one variable over an algebraically closed constant field k of characteristic \(p\geq 0\), denote by \(g=g_ k\) the genus of K and let \(K_ 0\) be a rational subfield of K. It is a classical result of Hurwitz that if \(k={\mathbb{C}}\) and \(g\geq 2\), then the group Aut(K/\({\mathbb{C}})\) of automorphisms of K over \({\mathbb{C}}\) is finite and the order \(ord(Aut(K/{\mathbb{C}}))\leq 84(g-1).\) The method of proof works over any k of characteristic 0. \textit{H. L. Schmid} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 179, 5-15 (1938; Zbl 0019.00301)] considered the cases in which \(p>0\) and, using work of \textit{F. K. Schmidt}, proved that the group Aut(K/k) is finite. \textit{P. Roquette} [Math. Z. 117, 157-163 (1970; Zbl 0194.353)] showed that if \(p>g+1\geq 3\), then the Hurwitz bound \(ord(Aut K/k)\leq 84(g-1)\) holds also in this case, except in the case \(p\geq 5\), and \(K=k(x,y)\), \(y^ 2=x^ p-x\). Moreover he showed that in that case \(G=Aut(K/k)\) is a central extension of \(C_ 2\) (the cyclic group of order 2) by PGL(2,p). It is natural to ask which finite groups arise as automorphism groups of function fields. Evidently one requires \(g\geq 2\) and in the case \(k={\mathbb{C}}\) \textit{L. Greenberg} [Discontin. Groups Riemann Surf., Proc. 1973 Conf. Univ. Maryland, 207-226 (1974; Zbl 0295.20053)] showed that every finite group is realizable as the automorphism group of some K/\({\mathbb{C}}\) and that is true in the case \(p>0\) also (for references and a history of the problem, see Chapter 1 of this thesis). Consider in particular the case when K is hyperelliptic. The author addresses the question as to which finite groups are realizable as some Aut(K/k) in that case and in certain natural generalizations of it (see below). A hyperelliptic function-field K possesses exactly one rational subfield \(K_ 0\) such that \([K:K_ 0]=2\) and there exists a subgroup Z of \(G=Aut(K/k)\) such that Z is in the centre Z(G) and \(Z=Gal(K/K_ 0)\). But then Aut(K/k) is a central extension of Z by a finite subgroup of \(Aut(K_ 0/k)\) and all those groups actually arise as automorphism groups of hyperelliptic function fields [\textit{K. Iwasawa}, Ann. Math., II. Ser. 58, 548-572 (1953; Zbl 0051.266)]. The author gives a complete solution of the problem of determining all those extensions, including their defining equations, and also of the following more general one, which is suggested by the foregoing. A function-field of type \(F[G_ 0| q,p]\) is a function-field (in one variable) over an algebraically closed field of constants k of characteristic \(p\geq 0\) such that: 1) there exist finite subgroups Z and G of Aut(K/k), with Z a subgroup of the centre Z(G) of G, \(Z\neq G\); \(Z\cong C_ q\) where \(q\neq p\) is a prime and \(C_ q\) denotes the cyclic group of order q; \(G/Z\cong G_ 0\); and 2) the fixed field of Z is rational. For fields of that type, G is a central extension of \(Z\cong C_ q\) by a finite subgroup \(G_ 0\) of \(Aut(K_ 0/k)\) and so the first task is to determine all such rational function fields. The group \(G_ 0\) acts on the places of \(K_ 0/k\) and one finds the orbits of \(G_ 0\). The author determines the central extensions of \(C_ q\) by finite subgroups of \(Aut(K_ 0/k)\) in the cases when \(G_ 0\) is an elementary Abelian q-group or a semi-direct product of an Abelian q-group with a cyclic group. He goes on to give a detailed study of function-fields \(F[G_ 0| q,p]\) and in particular of extensions of automorphisms \(\sigma \in Aut(K_ 0/k)\) to K and of the ramification type G(K,G) of K, which is defined as follows. With the foregoing notation, let \(K_ 1\) be the fixed field of G and \(K_ 0\) the fixed field of Z and let \(Q_ 1,...,Q_ r\) be the places of \(K_ 1\) ramified in \(K_ 0/K_ 1\), \(e_ 1,...,e_ r\) their ramification indices in \(K/K_ 1\), then \(T(K,G)=(G;e_ 1,...,e_ r)\). If \(q\neq p\), then the isomorphism type of G is determined completely by T(K,G), but if \(q=p\) then that is no longer the case and he obtains the appropriate analogues. The thesis is largely self contained, the necessary results concerning group extensions, for example, being included and the greater part of it is concerned with a very detailed discussion of the function-field of type \(F[G_ 0| q,p]\) and their defining equations, for groups G.

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