Improved upper bounds for the number of points on curves over finite fields
Annales de l'Institut Fourier, Volume 53 (2003) no. 6, p. 1677-1737

We give new arguments that improve the known upper bounds on the maximal number ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ of rational points of a curve of genus $g$ over a finite field ${𝔽}_{q}$, for a number of pairs $\left(q,g\right)$. Given a pair $\left(q,g\right)$ and an integer $N$, we determine the possible zeta functions of genus-$g$ curves over ${𝔽}_{q}$ with $N$ points, and then deduce properties of the curves from their zeta functions. In many cases we can show that a genus-$g$ curve over ${𝔽}_{q}$ with $N$ points must have a low-degree map to another curve over ${𝔽}_{q}$, and often this is enough to give us a contradiction. In particular, we are able to provide eight previously unknown values of ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$, namely: ${N}_{4}\left(5\right)=17$, ${N}_{4}\left(10\right)=27$, ${N}_{8}\left(9\right)=45$, ${N}_{16}\left(4\right)=45$, ${N}_{128}\left(4\right)=215$, ${N}_{3}\left(6\right)=14$, ${N}_{9}\left(10\right)=54$, and ${N}_{27}\left(4\right)=64$. Our arguments also allow us to give a non-computer-intensive proof of the recent result of Savitt that there are no genus-$4$ curves over ${𝔽}_{8}$ having exactly $27$ rational points. Furthermore, we show that there is an infinite sequence of $q$’s such that for every $g$ with $0, the difference between the Weil-Serre bound on ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ and the actual value of ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ is at least $g/2$.

Grâce à de nouveaux arguments, nous améliorons les majorations connues du nombre maximal ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ de points rationnels sur une courbe de genre $g$ définie sur un corps fini ${𝔽}_{q}$, pour certains couples $\left(q,g\right)$. En particulier, nous donnons huit valeurs de ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ qui étaient jusqu’à présent inconnues : ${N}_{4}\left(5\right)=17$, ${N}_{4}\left(10\right)=27$, ${N}_{8}\left(9\right)=45$, ${N}_{16}\left(4\right)=45$, ${N}_{128}\left(4\right)=215$, ${N}_{3}\left(6\right)=14$, ${N}_{9}\left(10\right)=54$, et ${N}_{27}\left(4\right)=64$. Nous redémontrons aussi, avec une utilisation minimale de l’ordinateur, un résultat de Savitt : il n’y a pas de courbe de genre $4$ sur ${𝔽}_{8}$ ayant exactement $27$ points rationnels. Enfin, nous démontrons qu’il y a une infinité de $q$ tels que pour tout $g$ satisfaisant $0, la différence entre la borne de Weil-Serre de ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ et la valeur exacte de ${N}_{q}\left(g\right)$ est au moins égale à $g/2$.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5802/aif.1990
Classification:  11G20,  14G05,  14G10,  14G15
Keywords: curve, rational point, zeta function, Weil bound, Serre bound, Oesterlé bound
@article{AIF_2003__53_6_1677_0,
author = {Howe, Everett W. and Lauter, Kristin E.},
title = {Improved upper bounds for the number of points on curves over finite fields},
journal = {Annales de l'Institut Fourier},
publisher = {Association des Annales de l'institut Fourier},
volume = {53},
number = {6},
year = {2003},
pages = {1677-1737},
doi = {10.5802/aif.1990},
zbl = {1065.11043},
mrnumber = {2038778},
language = {en},
url = {http://www.numdam.org/item/AIF_2003__53_6_1677_0}
}

Howe, Everett W.; Lauter, Kristin E. Improved upper bounds for the number of points on curves over finite fields. Annales de l'Institut Fourier, Volume 53 (2003) no. 6, pp. 1677-1737. doi : 10.5802/aif.1990. http://www.numdam.org/item/AIF_2003__53_6_1677_0/

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