Alternating group coverings of the affine line for characteristic two (Q1336684)

Let \(L_k\) be the affine line over an algebraically closed field \(k\), with char \(k = p \neq 0\). In a previous paper it has been conjectured by the first named author [Am. J. Math. 79, 825-856 (1957; Zbl 0087.036)] that the algebraic fundamental group \(\pi_A (L_k)\) (i.e. the set of finite Galois groups of unramified coverings of \(L_k)\) is the set \(Q(p)\) of all quasi \(p\)-groups (i.e. finite groups which are generated by all their \(p\)-Sylow subgroups), and it was shown that \(\pi_A (L_k) \subseteq Q(p)\). -- In particular, the conjecture would imply that \(\pi_A (L_k) \supseteq A_n\), the alternating group, for all \(n \geq p\) when \(p > 2\), and for all \(n \neq 3,4\) when \(p = 2\). Later this fact has been proved for \(p > 2\); this paper deals with the case \(p = 2\) and \(n \neq 3,4,6,7\). Explicit equations of the required unramified coverings of \(L_k\), are given, and they have equation \(Y^n - XY^t + 1 = 0\), with \(n = q + t\), \(q\) is a positive power of \(p\) and \(t\) is a positive integer nondivisible by \(p\). -- The proof is based mainly on a particular form of Jacobson's criterion which works in every characteristic. Several variations of this criterion are given which can be of interest not only for this problem.