Let $X/\mathbb {F}_{q}$ be a smooth, geometrically connected, quasi-projective scheme. Let $\mathcal {E}$ be a semi-simple overconvergent $F$-isocrystal on $X$. Suppose that irreducible summands $\mathcal {E}_i$ of $\mathcal {E}$ have rank 2, determinant $\bar {\mathbb {Q}}_p(-1)$, and infinite monodromy at $\infty$. Suppose further that for each closed point $x$ of $X$, the characteristic polynomial of $\mathcal {E}$ at $x$ is in $\mathbb {Q}[t]\subset \mathbb {Q}_p[t]$. Then there exists a dense open subset $U\subset X$ such that $\mathcal {E}|_U$ comes from a family of abelian varieties on $U$. As an application, let $L_1$ be an irreducible lisse $\bar {\mathbb {Q}}_l$ sheaf on $X$ that has rank 2, determinant $\bar {\mathbb {Q}}_l(-1)$, and infinite monodromy at $\infty$. Then all crystalline companions to $L_1$ exist (as predicted by Deligne's crystalline companions conjecture) if and only if there exist a dense open subset $U\subset X$ and an abelian scheme $\pi _U\colon A_U\rightarrow U$ such that $L_1|_U$ is a summand of $R^{1}(\pi _U)_*\bar {\mathbb {Q}}_l$.

In this article we prove exactness of the homotopy sequence of overconvergent fundamental groups for a smooth and projective morphism in characteristic p. We do so by first proving a corresponding result for rigid analytic varieties in characteristic $0$, following dos Santos [dS15] in the algebraic case. In characteristic p, we then proceed by a series of reductions to the case of a liftable family of curves, where we can apply the rigid analytic result. We then use this to deduce a Lefschetz hyperplane theorem for convergent fundamental groups, as well as a comparison theorem with the étale fundamental group.

In this paper we prove a semistable version of the variational Tate conjecture for divisors in crystalline cohomology, showing that for $k$ a perfect field of characteristic $p$, a rational (logarithmic) line bundle on the special fibre of a semistable scheme over $k\unicode[STIX]{x27E6}t\unicode[STIX]{x27E7}$ lifts to the total space if and only if its first Chern class does. The proof is elementary, using standard properties of the logarithmic de Rham–Witt complex. As a corollary, we deduce similar algebraicity lifting results for cohomology classes on varieties over global function fields. Finally, we give a counter-example to show that the variational Tate conjecture for divisors cannot hold with $\mathbb{Q}_{p}$-coefficients.

We give a new, geometric proof of the section conjecture for fixed points of finite group actions on projective curves of positive genus defined over the field of complex numbers, as well as its natural nilpotent analogue. As a part of our investigations we give an explicit description of the abelianised section map for groups of prime order in this setting. We also show a version of the $2$-nilpotent section conjecture.

Let be a field complete with respect to a discrete valuation whose residue field is perfect of characteristic . We prove that every smooth, projective, geometrically irreducible curve of genus one defined over with a non-zero divisor of degree a power of has a solvable point over .

We examine the problem of finding rational points defined over solvable extensions on algebraic curves defined over general fields. We construct non-singular, geometrically irreducible projective curves without solvable points of genus $g$ , when $g$ is at least 40, over fields of arbitrary characteristic. We prove that every smooth, geometrically irreducible projective curve of genus 0, 2, 3 or 4 defined over any field has a solvable point. Finally we prove that every genus 1 curve defined over a local field of characteristic zero with residue field of characteristic $p$ has a divisor of degree prime to $6p$ defined over a solvable extension.

We construct analogues of theta series, Eisenstein series and Poincaré series for function fields of one variable over finite fields, and prove their basic properties.