Explicit constructions of asymptotically good towers of function fields

Date
2003-12
Authors
Lotter, Ernest Christiaan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A tower of global function fields :F = (FI, F2' ... ) is an infinite tower of separable extensions of algebraic function fields of one variable such that the constituent function fields have the same (finite) field of constants and the genus of these tend to infinity. A study can be made of the asymptotic behaviour of the ratio of the number of places of degree one over the genus of FJWq as i tends to infinity. A tower is called asymptotically good if this limit is a positive number. The well-known Drinfeld- Vladut bound provides a general upper bound for this limit. In practise, asymptotically good towers are rare. While the first examples were non-explicit, we focus on explicit towers of function fields, that is towers where equations recursively defining the extensions Fi+d F; are known. It is known that if the field of constants of the tower has square cardinality, it is possible to attain the Drinfeld- Vladut upper bound for this limit, even in the explicit case. If the field of constants does not have square cardinality, it is unknown how close the limit of the tower can come to this upper bound. In this thesis, we will develop the theory required to construct and analyse the asymptotic behaviour of explicit towers of function fields. Various towers will be exhibited, and general families of explicit formulae for which the splitting behaviour and growth of the genus can be computed in a tower will be discussed. When the necessary theory has been developed, we will focus on the case of towers over fields of non-square cardinality and the open problem of how good the asymptotic behaviour of the tower can be under these circumstances.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Toring van globale funksieliggame F = (FI, F2' ... ) is 'n oneindige toring van skeibare uitbreidings van algebraïese funksieliggame van een veranderlike sodat die samestellende funksieliggame dieselfde (eindige) konstante liggaam het en die genus streef na oneindig. 'n Studie kan gemaak word van die asimptotiese gedrag van die verhouding van die aantal plekke van graad een gedeel deur die genus van Fi/F q soos i streef na oneindig. 'n Toring word asimptoties goed genoem as hierdie limiet 'n positiewe getal is. Die bekende Drinfeld- Vladut grens verskaf 'n algemene bogrens vir hierdie limiet. In praktyk is asimptoties goeie torings skaars. Terwyl die eerste voorbeelde nie eksplisiet was nie, fokus ons op eksplisiete torings, dit is torings waar die vergelykings wat rekursief die uitbreidings Fi+d F; bepaal bekend is. Dit is bekend dat as die kardinaliteit van die konstante liggaam van die toring 'n volkome vierkant is, dit moontlik is om die Drinfeld- Vladut bogrens vir die limiet te behaal, selfs in die eksplisiete geval. As die konstante liggaam nie 'n kwadratiese kardinaliteit het nie, is dit onbekend hoe naby die limiet van die toring aan hierdie bogrens kan kom. In hierdie tesis salons die teorie ontwikkel wat benodig word om eksplisiete torings van funksieliggame te konstrueer, en hulle asimptotiese gedrag te analiseer. Verskeie torings sal aangebied word en algemene families van eksplisiete formules waarvoor die splitsingsgedrag en groei van die genus in 'n toring bereken kan word, sal bespreek word. Wanneer die nodige teorie ontwikkel is, salons fokus op die geval van torings oor liggame waarvan die kardinaliteit nie 'n volkome vierkant is nie, en op die oop probleem aangaande hoe goed die asimptotiese gedrag van 'n toring onder hierdie omstandighede kan wees.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003
Keywords
Class field towers, Algebraic fields, Asymptotic expansions, Drinfeld–Vladut bound
Citation