Tropicalizing abelian covers of algebraic curves

arXiv1703.03067MaRDI QIDQ6284087FDOQ6284087

Authors: Paul Alexander Helminck 

Publication date: 8 March 2017

Abstract: In this thesis, we study the Berkovich skeleton of an algebraic curve over a discretely valued field $K$. We do this using coverings $Cightarrowmathbb{P}^1$ of the projective line. To study these coverings, we take the Galois closure of the corresponding injection of function fields $K(mathbb{P}^1)ightarrowK(C)$, giving a Galois morphism $overlineCightarrowmathbb{P}^1$. A theorem by Liu and Lorenzini tells us how to associate to this morphism a Galois morphism of semistable models $mathcalCightarrowmathcalD$. That is, we make the branch locus disjoint in the special fiber of $mathcalD$ and remove any vertical ramification on the components of $mathcal{D}_s$. This morphism $mathcalCightarrowmathcalD$ then gives rise to a morphism of intersection graphs $Sigma(mathcalC)ightarrowSigma(mathcalD)$. Our goal is to reconstruct $Sigma(mathcalC)$ from $Sigma(mathcalD)$ and we will do this by giving a set of covering and twisting data. These then give algorithms for finding the Berkovich skeleton of a curve $C$ whenever that curve has a morphism $overlineCightarrowmathbb{P}^1$ with a solvable Galois group. In particular, this gives an algorithm for finding the Berkovich skeleton of any genus three curve. These coverings also give a new proof of a classical result on the semistable reduction type of an elliptic curve, saying that an elliptic curve has potential good reduction if and only if the valuation of the $j$-invariant is positive.

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