Computing L-polynomials of Picard curves from Cartier-Manin matrices

Abstract

We study the sequence of zeta functions $Z(C_p,T)$ of a generic Picard curve $C:y^3=f(x)$ defined over $\mathbb{Q}$ at primes $p$ of good reduction for $C$. By determining the density of the set of primes of ordinary reduction, we prove that, for all but a density zero subset of primes, the Zeta function $Z(C_p,T)$ is uniquely determined by the Cartier--Manin matrix $A_p$ of $C$ modulo $p$, the irreducibility of $f$ modulo $p$ (or the failure thereof), and the exponent of the Jacobian of $C$ modulo $p$; we also show that for primes $\equiv 1 \pmod{3}$ the matrix $A_p$ suffices and that for primes $\equiv 2 \pmod{3}$ the genericity assumption on $C$ is unnecessary. By combining this with recent work of Sutherland, we obtain a practical probabilistic algorithm of Las Vegas type that computes $Z(C_p,T)$ for almost all primes $p \le N$ using $N\log(N)^{3+o(1)}$ expected bit operations. This is the first practical result of this type for curves of genus greater than 2.