Asymptotic Fermat for signature $(4,2,p)$ over number fields

Abstract

Let $K$ be a number field. Using the modular method, we prove asymptotic results on solutions of the Diophantine equation $x^4-y^2=z^p$ over $K$, assuming some deep but standard conjectures of the Langlands programme when $K$ has at least one complex embedding. On the other hand, we give unconditional results in the case of totally real extensions having odd narrow class number and a unique prime above $2$. When modularity of elliptic curves over $K$ is known, for example when $K$ is real quadratic or the $r$-layer of the cyclotomic $\mathbb{Z}_2$-extension of $\mathbb{Q}$, effective asymptotic results hold.