On Kummer extensions with one place at infinity

Abstract

Let $K$ be the algebraic closure of $\mathbb{F}_{q}$. We provide an explicit description of the Weierstrass semigroup $H(Q_\infty)$ at the only place at infinity $Q_{\infty}$ of the curve $\mathcal{X}$ defined by the Kummer extension with equation $y^m=f(x)$, where $f(x)\in K[x]$ is a polynomial satisfying $\gcd (m, \text{deg} f)=1$. As a consequence, we determine the Frobenius number and the multiplicity of $H(Q_{\infty})$ in some cases, and we discuss sufficient conditions for the Weierstrass semigroup $H(Q_{\infty})$ to be symmetric. Finally, we characterize certain maximal Castle curves of type $(\mathcal{X}, Q_{\infty})$.