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François Legrand

Publications and source records attributed to François Legrand.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2019

Density results for specialization sets of Galois covers

We provide evidence for this conclusion: given a finite Galois cover $f: X \rightarrow \mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$ of group $G$, almost all (in a density sense) realizations of $G$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ do not occur as specializations of $f$. We show that this holds if the number of branch points of $f$ is sufficiently large, under the abc-conjecture and, possibly, the lower bound predicted by the Malle conjecture for the number of Galois extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$ of given group and bounded discriminant. This widely extends a result of Granville on the lack of $\mathbb{Q}$-rational points on quadratic twists of hyperelliptic curves over $\mathbb{Q}$ with large genus, under the abc-conjecture (a diophantine reformulation of the case $G=\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ of our result). As a further evidence, we exhibit a few finite groups $G$ for which the above conclusion holds unconditionally for almost all covers of $\mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$ of group $G$. We also introduce a local-global principle for specializations of Galois covers $f: X \rightarrow \mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$ and show that it often fails if $f$ has abelian Galois group and sufficiently many branch points, under the abc-conjecture. On the one hand, such a local-global conclusion underscores the "smallness" of the specialization set of a Galois cover of $\mathbb{P}^1_\mathbb{Q}$. On the other hand, it allows to generate conditionally "many" curves over $\mathbb{Q}$ failing the Hasse principle, thus generalizing a recent result of Clark and Watson devoted to the hyperelliptic case.

math.NT↗
arXiv2019

Negative reflection of elastic guided waves in chaotic and random scattering media

The propagation of waves in complex media can be harnessed either by taming the incident wave-field impinging on the medium or by forcing waves along desired paths through its careful design. These two alternative strategies have given rise to fascinating concepts such as time reversal or negative refraction. Here, we show how these two processes are intimately linked through the negative reflection phenomenon. A negative reflecting mirror converts a wave of positive phase velocity into its negative counterpart and vice versa. In this article, we experimentally demonstrate this phenomenon with elastic waves in a 2D billiard and in a disordered plate by means of laser interferometry. Despite the complexity of such configurations, the negatively reflected wave field focuses back towards the initial source location, thereby mimicking a phase conjugation operation while being a fully passive process. The super-focusing capability of negative reflection is also highlighted in a monochromatic regime. The negative reflection phenomenon is not restricted to guided elastic waves since it can occur in zero-gap systems such as photonic crystals, chiral metamaterials or graphene. Negative reflection can thus become a tool of choice for the control of waves in all fields of wave physics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2018

Embedding problems for automorphism groups of field extensions

A central conjecture in inverse Galois theory, proposed by Dèbes and Deschamps, asserts that every finite split embedding problem over an arbitrary field can be regularly solved. We give an unconditional proof of a consequence of this conjecture, namely that such embedding problems can be regularly solved if one waives the requirement that the solution fields are normal. This extends previous results of M. Fried, Takahashi, Deschamps, and the last two authors concerning the realization of finite groups as automorphism groups of field extensions.

math.NT↗
arXiv2018

Negative refraction of Lamb modes: A theoretical study

This paper provides a theoretical investigation of negative refraction and focusing of elastic guided waves in a free-standing plate with a step-like thickness change. Under certain conditions, a positive phase velocity (forward) Lamb mode can be converted into a negative phase velocity (backward) mode at such interface, giving rise to negative refraction. A semi-analytical model is developed in order to study the influence of various parameters such as the material Poisson's coefficient, the step-like thickness, the frequency and the incidence angle. To this end, all the Lamb and shear horizontal propagating modes, but also a large number of their inhomogeneous and evanescent counterpart,s are taken into account. The boundary conditions applied to the stress-displacement fields at the thickness step yields an equation system. Its inversion provides the transmission and reflection coefficients between each mode at the interface. The step-like thickness and Poisson's ratio are shown to be key parameters to optimize the negative refraction process. In terms of material, Duralumin is found to be optimal as it leads to a nearly perfect conversion between forward and backward modes over broad frequency and angular ranges. An excellent focusing ability is thus predicted for a flat lens made of two symmetric thickness steps. Theoretical results are confirmed by a numerical FDTD simulation and experimental measurements made on an optimized Duralumin flat lens by means of laser interferometry. This theoretical study paves the way towards the optimization of elastic devices based on negative refraction, in particular for cloaking or super-focusing purposes.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2018

A propos d'une version faible du problème inverse de Galois

This paper deals with the Weak Inverse Galois Problem which, for a given field $k$, states that, for every finite group $G$, there exists a finite separable extension $L/k$ such that ${\rm{Aut}}(L/k)=G$. One of its goals is to explain how one can generically produce families of fields which fulfill this problem, but which do not fulfill the usual Inverse Galois Problem. We show that this holds for, e.g., the fields $\mathbb{Q}^{\rm{sol}}$, $\mathbb{Q}^{\rm{tr}}$, $\mathbb{Q}^{\rm{pyth}}$, and for the maximal pro-$p$-extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$. Moreover, we show that, for every finite non-trivial group $G$, there exists many fields fulfilling the Weak Inverse Galois Problem, but over which $G$ does not occur as a Galois group. As a further application, we show that every field fulfills the regular version of the Weak Inverse Galois Problem.

math.NT↗
arXiv2018

On the local behaviour of specializations of function field extensions

Given a field $k$ of characteristic zero and an indeterminate $T$ over $k$, we investigate the local behaviour at primes of $k$ of finite Galois extensions of $k$ arising as specializations of finite Galois extensions $E/k(T)$ (with $E/k$ regular) at points $t_0 \in \mathbb{P}^1(k)$. We provide a general result about decomposition groups at primes of $k$ in specializations, extending a fundamental result of Beckmann concerning inertia groups. We then apply our result to study crossed products, the Hilbert--Grunwald property, and finite parametric sets.

math.NT↗
arXiv2017

Automorphism groups over Hilbertian fields

We show that every finite group occurs as the automorphism group of infinitely many finite (field) extensions of any given Hilbertian field. This extends and unifies previous results of M. Fried and Takahashi on the global field case.

math.NT↗
arXiv2017

Non-parametric sets of regular realizations over number fields

Given a number field $k$, we show that, for many finite groups $G$, all the Galois extensions of $k$ with Galois group $G$ cannot be obtained by specializing any given finitely many Galois extensions $E/k(T)$ with Galois group $G$ and $E/k$ regular. Our examples include abelian groups, dihedral groups, symmetric groups, general linear groups over finite fields, etc. We also provide a similar conclusion while specializing any given infinitely many Galois extensions $E/k(T)$ with Galois group $G$ and $E/k$ regular of a certain type, under a conjectural "uniform Faltings" theorem".

math.NT↗
arXiv2017

A note on prime divisors of polynomials $P(T^k), k \geq 1$

Let $F$ be a number field, $O_F$ the integral closure of $\mathbb{Z}$ in $F$ and $P(T) \in O_F[T]$ a monic separable polynomial such that $P(0) \not=0$ and $P(1) \not=0$. We give precise sufficient conditions on a given positive integer $k$ for the following condition to hold: there exist infinitely many non-zero prime ideals $\mathcal{P}$ of $O_F$ such that the reduction modulo $\mathcal{P}$ of $P(T)$ has a root in the residue field $O_F/\mathcal{P}$, but the reduction modulo $\mathcal{P}$ of $P(T^k)$ has no root in $O_F/\mathcal{P}$. This makes a result from a previous paper (motivated by a problem in field arithmetic) asserting that there exist (infinitely many) such integers $k$ more precise.

math.NT↗
arXiv2016

On parametric extensions over number fields

Given a number field $F$, a finite group $G$ and an indeterminate $T$, {\it{a $G$-parametric extension over $F$}} is a finite Galois extension $E/F(T)$ with Galois group $G$ and $E/F$ regular that has all the Galois extensions of $F$ with Galois group $G$ among its specializations. We are mainly interested in producing non-$G$-parametric extensions, which relates to classical questions in inverse Galois theory like the Beckmann-Black problem. Building on a strategy developed in previous papers, we show that there exists at least one non-$G$-parametric extension over $F$ for a given non-trivial finite group $G$ and a given number field $F$ under the sole necessary condition that $G$ occurs as the Galois group of a Galois extension $E/F(T)$ with $E/F$ regular.

math.NT↗
arXiv2016

Twists of superelliptic curves without rational points

Let $n\geq 2$ be an integer, $F$ a number field, $O_F$ the integral closure of $\mathbb{Z}$ in $F$ and $N$ a positive multiple of $n$. The paper deals with degree $N$ polynomials $P(T) \in O_F[T]$ such that the superelliptic curve $Y^n=P(T)$ has twists $Y^n=d\cdot P(T)$ without $F$-rational points. We show that this condition holds if the Galois group of $P(T)$ over $F$ has an element which fixes no root of $P(T)$. Two applications are given. Firstly, we prove that the proportion of degree $N$ polynomials $P(T) \in O_F[T]$ with height bounded by $H$ and such that the associated curve satisfies the desired condition tends to 1 as $H$ tends to $\infty$. Secondly, we connect the problem with the recent notion of non-parametric extensions and give new examples of such extensions with cyclic Galois groups.

math.NT↗
arXiv2016

Hilbert specialization results with local conditions

Given a field $k$ of characteristic zero and an indeterminate $T$, the main topic of the paper is the construction of specializations of any given finite extension of $k(T)$ of degree $n$ that are degree $n$ field extensions of $k$ with specified local behavior at any given finite set of primes of $k$. First, we give a full non-Galois analog of a result with a ramified type conclusion from a preceding paper and next we prove a unifying statement which combines our results and previous work devoted to the unramified part of the problem in the case $k$ is a number field.

math.NT↗
arXiv2015

Specialization results and ramification conditions

Given a hilbertian field $k$ of characteristic zero and a finite Galois extension $E/k(T)$ with group $G$ such that $E/k$ is regular, we produce some specializations of $E/k(T)$ at points $t_0 \in \mathbb{P}^1(k)$ which have the same Galois group but also specified inertia groups at finitely many given primes. This result has two main applications. Firstly we conjoin it with previous works to obtain Galois extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$ of various finite groups with specified local behavior - ramified or unramified - at finitely many given primes. Secondly, in the case $k$ is a number field, we provide criteria for the extension $E/k(T)$ to satisfy this property: at least one Galois extension $F/k$ of group $G$ is not a specialization of $E/k(T)$.

math.NT↗
arXiv2014

Parametric Galois Extensions

Given a field $k$ and a finite group $H$, {\it{an $H$-parametric extension over $k$}} is a finite Galois extension of $k(T)$ of Galois group containing $H$ which is regular over $k$ and has all the Galois extensions of $k$ of group $H$ among its specializations. We are mainly interested in producing non $H$-parametric extensions, which relates to classical questions in inverse Galois theory like the Beckmann-Black problem and the existence of one parameter generic polynomials. We develop a general approach started in a preceding paper and provide new non parametricity criteria and new examples.

math.NT↗
arXiv2011

Specialization results in Galois theory

The paper has three main applications. The first one is this Hilbert-Grunwald statement. If $f:X\rightarrow \Pp^1$ is a degree $n$ $\Qq$-cover with monodromy group $S_n$ over $\bar\Qq$, and finitely many suitably big primes $p$ are given with partitions $\{d_{p,1},..., d_{p,s_p}\}$ of $n$, there exist infinitely many specializations of $f$ at points $t_0\in \Qq$ that are degree $n$ field extensions with residue degrees $d_{p,1},..., d_{p,s_p}$ at each prescribed prime $p$. The second one provides a description of the se-pa-ra-ble closure of a PAC field $k$ of characteristic $p\not=2$: it is generated by all elements $y$ such that $y^m-y\in k$ for some $m\geq 2$. The third one involves Hurwitz moduli spaces and concerns fields of definition of covers. A common tool is a criterion for an étale algebra $\prod_lE_l/k$ over a field $k$ to be the specialization of a $k$-cover $f:X\rightarrow B$ at some point $t_0\in B(k)$. The question is reduced to finding $k$-rational points on a certain $k$-variety, and then studied over the various fields $k$ of our applications.

math.NT↗
arXiv2011

Twisted covers and specializations

The central topic is this question: is a given $k$-étale algebra $\prod_lE_l/k$ the specialization of a given $k$-cover $f:X\rightarrow B$ at some point $t_0\in B(k)$? Our main tool is a {\it twisting lemma} that reduces the problem to finding $k$-rational points on a certain $k$-variety. Previous forms of this twisting lemma are generalized and unified. New applications are given: a Grunwald form of Hilbert's irreducibility theorem over number fields, a non-Galois variant of the Tchebotarev theorem for function fields over finite fields, some general specialization properties of covers over PAC or ample fields.

math.NT↗