Hilbert irreducibility for algebraic points

Abstract

We study the following problem: given a covering of curves $\phi\colon X \to X_0$ over a number field $k$, and an integer $d$, when is the set \[\{p \in X_0(\overline{k})|\ \mathrm{deg}\ p = d, \text{ and the fiber } \phi^{-1}(p) \text{ is reducible over } k(p)\}\] finite? In case $X$ itself admits infinitely many degree $d$ points, we consider the modified problem where the images of degree $d$ points on $X$ are removed from the set. We prove a number of theorems ensuring a positive answer. As a consequence we show that for a fixed curve $X$ and all sufficiently high-degree indecomposable rational functions $\phi:X \to \mathbb{P}^1$ with $b$ branch points, the set of reducible fibers above degree $d<b/7-2$ points, not containing a degree $d$ point from $X$, is finite.