The sixth Painlevé transcendent and uniformization of algebraic curves
The sixth Painlevé equation \[ \begin{aligned} P_6: \quad y_{xx}= &\frac 12 \Bigl(\frac 1y + \frac 1{y-1} +\frac 1{y-x} \Bigr)y_x^2 - \Bigl(\frac 1x + \frac 1{x-1} +\frac 1{y-x} \Bigr)y_x \\ &+ \frac{y(y-1)(y-x)}{x^2(x-1)^2} \Bigl( \alpha -\beta \frac x{y_2} + \gamma \frac{x-1}{(y-1)^2} - \Bigl(\delta - \frac 12 \bigr) \frac{x(x-1)} {(y-x)^2} \Bigr) \end{aligned} \] admits Picard's solutions if \(\alpha=\beta=\gamma=\delta=0\) and Hitchin's solutions if \(\alpha=\beta=\gamma=\delta=1/8,\) both of which are represented by \(\wp\)-functions and are parametrized by two integration constants. Under a certain condition on the integration constants these solutions are algebraic functions defining Picard-Hitchin curves, P-H curves for short, \(F(x,y)=0\). The paper under review studies the uniformization of algebraic curves including the P-H curves and gives related results. First, for the family of P-H curves, the author presents an explicit uniformizing representation \((x(\tau), y(\tau))\) in terms of \(\theta\)-functions as well as the associated Fuchsian equation or Schwarzian equation. The differentials \(dy=\dot{y} d\tau\) on P-H curves and uniformizing groups for Picard curves are obtained by using, respectively, \(\theta\)-functions and transformations of them. Moreover, the P-H curves generate infinite families of algebraic curves admitting explicit uniformization, which are called towers of uniformizable curves and consist of curves given by algebraic functions not necessarily solving \(P_6\). Uniformizing representations of Jacobi and Schwarz hyperelliptic curves are particularly interesting examples. The P-H curves also have links with other algebraic solutions of \(P_6\). The Fuchsian equation associated with any algebraic solution of \(P_6\) is solvable in terms of \({}_2F_1\)-hypergeometric functions. In particular, a simple Picard case corresponds to a Chudnovsky equation, that is, an exceptional Heun equation, which is changed into a linear equation used by Apéry. Finally examples of transcendental Fuchsian equations on tori are described. These equations are derived through some uniformizable algebraic curves covering tori discussed here.
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6517079