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Jeff Achter

Publications and source records attributed to Jeff Achter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

Split abelian surfaces over finite fields and reductions of genus-2 curves

For prime powers q, let s(q) denote the probability that a randomly-chosen principally-polarized abelian surface over the finite field F_q is not simple. We show that there are positive constants B and C such that for all q, B (log q)^{-3}(log log q)^{-4} < s(q)sqrt(q) < C (log q)^4(log log q)^2, and we obtain better estimates under the assumption of the generalized Riemann hypothesis. If A is a principally-polarized abelian surface over a number field K, let pi_split(A/K, z) denote the number of prime ideals p of K of norm at most z such that A has good reduction at p and A_p is not simple. We conjecture that for sufficiently general A, the counting function pi_split(A/K, z) grows like sqrt(z)/log z. We indicate why our theorem on the rate of growth of s(q) gives us reason to hope that our conjecture is true.

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arXiv2015

Elliptic curves, random matrices and orbital integrals

An isogeny class of elliptic curves over a finite field is determined by a quadratic Weil polynomial. Gekeler has given a product formula, in terms of congruence considerations involving that polynomial, for the size of such an isogeny class. In this paper, we give a new, transparent proof of this formula; it turns out that this product actually computes an adelic orbital integral which visibly counts the desired cardinality. This answers a question posed by N. Katz.

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arXiv2015

Superspecial rank of supersingular abelian varieties and Jacobians

An abelian variety defined over an algebraically closed field k of positive characteristic is supersingular if it is isogenous to a product of supersingular elliptic curves and is superspecial if it is isomorphic to a product of supersingular elliptic curves. In this paper, the superspecial condition is generalized by defining the superspecial rank of an abelian variety, which is an invariant of its p-torsion. The main results in this paper are about the superspecial rank of supersingular abelian varieties and Jacobians of curves. For example, it turns out that the superspecial rank determines information about the decomposition of a supersingular abelian variety up to isomorphism; namely it is a bound for the maximal number of supersingular elliptic curves appearing in such a decomposition.

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arXiv2015

Local heuristics and an exact formula for abelian surfaces over finite fields

Consider a quartic $q$-Weil polynomial $f$. Motivated by equidistribution considerations we define, for each prime $\ell$, a local factor which measures the relative frequency with which $f\bmod \ell$ occurs as the characteristic polynomial of a symplectic similitude over $\mathbb{F}_\ell$. For a certain class of polynomials, we show that the resulting infinite product calculates the number of principally polarized abelian surfaces over $\mathbb{F}_q$ with Weil polynomial $f$.

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arXiv2014

The distribution of torsion subschemes of abelian varieties

We consider the distribution of p-power group schemes among the torsion of abelian varieties over finite fields of characteristic p, as follows. Fix natural numbers g and n, and let $ξ$ be a non-supersingular principally quasipolarized Barsotti-Tate group of level n. We classify the F_q-rational forms $ξ^α$ of $ξ$. Among all principally polarized abelian varieties X/F_q of dimension g with p^n-torsion geometrically isomorphic to ξ, we compute the frequency with which X[p^n] is isomorphic to $ξ^α$. The error in our estimate is bounded by $D/\sqrt{q}$ where D depends on g, n and p, but not on $ξ$.

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arXiv2014

A note on L-packets and abelian varieties over local fields

A polarized abelian variety (X,λ) of dimension g over a local field K determines an admissible representation of GSpin_{2g+1}(K). We show that the restriction of this representation to Spin_{2g+1}(K) is reducible if and only if X is isogenous to its twist by the quadratic unramified extension of K. When g=1 and K = Q_p, we recover the well-known fact that the admissible GL_2(K) representation attached to an elliptic curve E is reducible upon restriction to SL_2(K) if and only if E has supersingular reduction.

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arXiv2014

Irreducibility of Newton strata in GU(1,n-1) Shimura varieties

Let L be a quadratic imaginary field, inert at the rational prime p. Fix an integer n at least 3, and let M be the moduli space (in characteristic p) of principally polarized abelian varieties of dimension n equipped with an action by O_L of signature of (1,n-1). We show that each Newton stratum of M, other than the supersingular stratum, is irreducible.

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arXiv2013

Generic Newton polygons for curves of given p-rank

We survey results and open questions about the $p$-ranks and Newton polygons of Jacobians of curves in positive characteristic $p$. We prove some geometric results about the $p$-rank stratification of the moduli space of (hyperelliptic) curves. For example, if $0 \leq f \leq g-1$, we prove that every component of the $p$-rank $f+1$ stratum of ${\mathcal M}_g$ contains a component of the $p$-rank $f$ stratum in its closure. We prove that the $p$-rank $f$ stratum of $\overline{\mathcal M}_g$ is connected. For all primes $p$ and all $g \geq 4$, we demonstrate the existence of a Jacobian of a smooth curve, defined over $\overline{\mathbb F}_p$, whose Newton polygon has slopes $\{0, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{3}{4}, 1\}$. We include partial results about the generic Newton polygons of curves of given genus $g$ and $p$-rank $f$.

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arXiv2013

On the abelian fivefolds attached to cubic surfaces

To a family of smooth projective cubic surfaces one can canonically associate a family of abelian fivefolds. In characteristic zero, we calculate the Hodge groups of the abelian varieties which arise in this way. In arbitrary characteristic we calculate the monodromy group of the universal family of abelian varieties, and thus show that the Galois group of the 27 lines on a suitably general cubic surface in positive characteristic is as large as possible.

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arXiv2012

Arithmetic Torelli maps for cubic surfaces and threefolds

It has long been known that to a complex cubic surface or threefold one can canonically associate a principally polarized abelian variety. We give a construction which works for cubics over an arithmetic base. This answers, away from the prime 2, an old question of Deligne and a recent question of Kudla and Rapoport. We further classify the Mumford-Tate groups of the abelian varieties which arise, and give additional arithmetic applications.

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arXiv2009

The p-rank strata of the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves

We prove results about the intersection of the p-rank strata and the boundary of the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves in characteristic p > 2. Using this, we prove that the Z/\ell-monodromy of every irreducible component of the stratum H_g^f of hyperelliptic curves of genus g and p-rank f is the symplectic group Sp_{2g}(Z/\ell) if g > 2, f > 0 and \ell is an odd prime distinct from p. These results yield applications about the generic behavior of hyperelliptic curves of given genus and p-rank. The first application is that a generic hyperelliptic curve of genus g > 2 and p-rank 0 is not supersingular. Other applications are about absolutely simple Jacobians and the generic behavior of class groups and zeta functions of hyperelliptic curves of given genus and $p$-rank over finite fields.

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arXiv2009

Split reductions of simple abelian varieties

Consider an absolutely simple abelian variety X over a number field K. If the absolute endomorphism ring of X is commutative and satisfies certain parity conditions, then the reduction X_p is absolutely simple for almost all p. Conversely, if the absolute endomorphism ring of X is noncommutative, then X_p is reducible for p in a set of positive density.

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arXiv2008

Local monodromy of p-divisible groups

A $p$-divisible group over a field $K$ admits a slope decomposition; associated to each slope $λ$ is an integer $m$ and a representation $\gal(K) \ra \gl_m(D_λ)$, where $D_λ$ is the $\rat_p$-division algebra with Brauer invariant $[λ]$. We call $m$ the multiplicity of $λ$ in the $p$-divisible group. Let $G_0$ be a $p$-divisible group over a field $k$. Suppose that $λ$ is not a slope of $G_0$, but that there exists a deformation of $G$ in which $λ$ appears with multiplicity one. Assume that $λ\not= (s-1)/s$ for any natural number $s>1$. We show that there exists a deformation $G/R$ of $G_0/k$ such that the representation $\gal(\Frac R) \ra \gl_1(D_λ)$ has large image.

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arXiv2008

Monodromy of the p-rank strata of the moduli space of curves

We compute the Z/\ell and \ell-adic monodromy of every irreducible component of the moduli space M_g^f of curves of genus and and p-rank f. In particular, we prove that the Z/\ell-monodromy of every component of M_g^f is the symplectic group Sp_{2g}(Z/\ell) if g>=3 and \ell is a prime distinct from p. We give applications to the generic behavior of automorphism groups, Jacobians, class groups, and zeta functions of curves of given genus and p-rank.

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arXiv2007

Exceptional covers of surfaces

Consider a finite morphism f:X -> Y of smooth projective varieties over a finite field k. Suppose X is the vanishing locus in projective N-space of at most r forms of degree at most d. We show there is a constant C, depending only on N, r, d and deg(f) such that if #k > C, then f(k):X(k) -> Y(k) is injective if and only if it's surjective.

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arXiv2007

Curves of given $p$-rank with trivial automorphism group

Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p >0$. Suppose $g \geq 3$ and $0 \leq f \leq g$. We prove there is a smooth projective $k$-curve of genus $g$ and $p$-rank $f$ with no non-trivial automorphisms. In addition, we prove there is a smooth projective hyperelliptic $k$-curve of genus $g$ and $p$-rank $f$ whose only non-trivial automorphism is the hyperelliptic involution. The proof involves computations about the dimension of the moduli space of (hyperelliptic) $k$-curves of genus $g$ and $p$-rank $f$ with extra automorphisms.

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arXiv2006

The integral monodromy of hyperelliptic and trielliptic curves

We compute the $\integ/\ell$ and $\integ_\ell$ monodromy of every irreducible component of the moduli spaces of hyperelliptic and trielliptic curves. In particular, we provide a proof that the $\integ/\ell$ monodromy of the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves of genus $g$ is the symplectic group $\sp_{2g}(\integ/\ell)$. We prove that the $\integ/\ell$ monodromy of the moduli space of trielliptic curves with signature $(r,s)$ is the special unitary group $\su_{(r,s)}(\integ/\ell\tensor\integ[ζ_3])$.

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