Limit distribution of algebraic integral points on curves

Abstract

For a quasi-projective arithmetic surface $\mathcal U/\mathbb Z$ and a compact subset $E\subset \mathcal U(\mathbb C)$ under mild regularity assumptions, we study algebraic integral points on $\mathcal U$ whose Galois orbits lie in $E$. We characterize the collections of local probability measures that arise simultaneously as the local limit distributions of Galois orbits of such points. Our result also works for measures prescribed at a subset of places. This generalizes the results of Smith and Orloski--Sardari on $\mathcal{U}=\mathbb{A}^1$ concerning the archimedean place. As a consequence, we prove an integral version of Szachniewicz's theorem on curves, which states that every \emph{integral} GVF functional can be approximated by a sequence of algebraic integral points in the GVF topology. We also give several applications: we prove that the essential minimum of height functions on curves can be attained by algebraic integral points; we connect integer Chebyshev constants with the essential minima of certain height functions on $\mathbb{A}^1$ and prove a conjecture of Montgomery; we also answer affirmatively a question of Levenberg--Londhe by showing that the smallest limit of averaged trace of totally positive algebraic integers can be attained by a sequence of totally positive algebraic units.