Descent on superelliptic curves

Abstract

We are concerned with the question of determining the set $C(\mathbb{Q})$, where $C$ is a curve defined by an equation of the form $y^q=f(x)$, where $q$ is an odd prime and $f$ is a polynomial defined over $\mathbb{Q}$. This question can often be answered using a set which encapsulates information about local solubility of a particular collection of covers of $C$. We define this set and show how to compute it.