Hyper-elliptic curve

A non-singular projective model of the affine curve $y^2=f(x)$, where $f(x)$ is a polynomial without multiple roots of odd degree $n$ (the case of even degree $2k$ may be reduced to that of odd degree $2k-1$). The field of functions on a hyper-elliptic curve (a field of hyper-elliptic functions) is a quadratic extension of the field of rational functions; in this sense it is the simplest field of algebraic functions except for the field of rational functions. Hyper-elliptic curves are distinguished by the condition of the existence of a one-dimensional linear series $g_2'$ of divisors of degree 2, defining a morphism of order 2 of the hyper-elliptic curve onto the projective straight line. The genus of a hyper-elliptic curve is $(n-1)/2$, so that, for various odd $n$, hyper-elliptic curves are birationally inequivalent. For $n=1$ one obtains the projective straight line; for $n=3$ an elliptic curve is obtained. Traditionally, curves of genus 0 and 1 are not called hyper-elliptic curves. The fractions of regular differential forms generate a subfield of genus 0 on a hyper-elliptic curve of genus $g>1$; this property is a complete characterization of hyper-elliptic curves.

References

[1]	C. Chevalley, "Introduction to the theory of algebraic functions of one variable" , Amer. Math. Soc. (1951) MR0042164 Zbl 0045.32301
[2]	G. Springer, "Introduction to Riemann surfaces" , Addison-Wesley (1957) pp. Chapt.10 MR0092855 Zbl 0078.06602
[3]	I.R. Shafarevich, "Basic algebraic geometry" , Springer (1977) (Translated from Russian) MR0447223 Zbl 0362.14001

Comments

The definition given in the main article (first sentence) is only valid in characteristic not equal to 2. In general, a hyper-elliptic curve can be defined as a double covering (cf. also Covering surface) of a rational curve.

References

[a1]	E. Arbarello, M. Cornalba, P.A. Griffiths, J.E. Harris, "Geometry of algebraic curves" , 1 , Springer (1985) MR0770932 Zbl 0559.14017