Wild monodromy and automorphisms of curves
Abstract
Description
Let $R$ be a complete discrete valuation ring of mixed characteristic $(0,p)$ with field of fractions $K$ containing the $p$-th roots of unity. This paper is concerned with semi-stable models of $p$-cyclic covers of the projective line $C \la \PK$. We start by providing a new construction of a semi-stable model of $C$ in the case of an equidistant branch locus. If the cover is given by the Kummer equation $Z^p=f(X_0)$ we define what we called the monodromy polynomial ${\mathcal L}(Y)$ of $f(X_0)$; a polynomial with coefficients in $K$. Its zeros are key to obtaining a semi-stable model of $C$. As a corollary we obtain an upper bound for the minimal extension $K'/K$ over which a stable model of the curve $C$ exists. Consider the polynomial ${\cal L}(Y)\prod(Y^p-f(y_i))$ where the $y_i$ range over the zeros of ${\cal L}(Y)$. We show that the splitting field of this polynomial always contains $K'$, and that in some instances the two fields are equal.
The final version of this article will be published in the Duke Mathematical Journal, published by Duke University press
The final version of this article will be published in the Duke Mathematical Journal, published by Duke University press