Partial zeta functions, partial exponential sums, and p-adic estimates

Abstract

Partial zeta functions of algebraic varieties over finite fields generalize the classical zeta function by allowing each variable to be defined over a possibly different extension field of a fixed finite field. Due to this extra variation their rationality is surprising, and even simple examples are delicate to compute. For instance, we give a detailed description of the partial zeta function of an affine curve where the number of unit poles varies, a property different from classical zeta functions. On the other hand, they do retain some properties similar to the classical case. To this end, we give Chevalley-Warning type bounds for partial zeta functions and L-functions associated to partial exponential sums.