$$\operatorname{Pic}(X) \simeq \Z^{\rho}, \qquad \rho(X) := \operatorname{rk} \operatorname{Pic}(X)$$
$$\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \simeq \Z\langle \text{algebraic curves in } X \rangle / \langle \text{linear equivalences} \rangle \subset H_2(X, \Z)$$
$$\begin{aligned} \operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) &\simeq H^{1,1}(X_{\Bbb{C}}) \cap H^2(X_{\Bbb{C}}, \Z) \\ &\subset H^2(X_{\Bbb{C}}, \Z) \simeq (-E_8)^2 \oplus U^3 \simeq \Z^{22} \end{aligned}$$
$$H^2(X_{\Bbb{C}},\Bbb{Q}) \simeq \operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}})_{\Bbb{Q}} \oplus T(X)_{\Bbb{Q}}$$
Goal
From the equations of $X$, compute $\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \subset H_2(X,\Z)$ as a $\operatorname{Gal}(k^{\mathrm{al}}/k)$-module.
"The evaluation of $\rho$ for a given surface presents in general grave difficulties." (Zariski)
Question
$$\begin{aligned} H^1(\operatorname{Gal}(k^{\mathrm{al}}/k), \operatorname{Pic}X^{\mathrm{al}}) &\simeq \operatorname{Br}_1(X)/\operatorname{Br}_0(X) \\ X(k) &\subset X(\mathbf{A}_k)^{\operatorname{Br}} \subset X(\mathbf{A}_k) \end{aligned}$$
Let $X/\Bbb{F}_q$, where $q = p^n$, be an abelian surface or a K3 surface. Then:
$$\boxed{ \lim_{t\to q}\frac{P_2(t)}{(t-q)^\rho} =(-1)^{\rho-1}q^{21-\rho}\#\operatorname{Br}(X_p)\,\operatorname{disc}(\operatorname{Pic}(X_p)) }$$
$$\begin{gathered} \rho=\operatorname{rk}\operatorname{Pic}(X_p),\quad \#\operatorname{Br}(X_p)\in\Bbb{Q}^{\times 2} \\ \mathrm{Tate}\Rightarrow\mathrm{Artin\!-\!Tate} \end{gathered}$$
$$\begin{gathered} q^{-22}P_2(qt) = h(t)\prod_i\Phi_{k_i}(t)^{\gamma_i} \\ \Phi_k\text{ the }k\text{-th cyclotomic polynomial};\quad h\text{ has no cyclotomic factor} \\ \rho(X_{\Bbb{F}_{q^r}}) = \sum_{k_i\mid r}\gamma_i\deg\Phi_{k_i} \end{gathered}$$
$$p^{-22}P_2(pt) = (t-1)(t+1)(t-1)^4(t^4+1)h(t), \qquad \deg h = 12$$
Take $f \in \Bbb{Z}[x,y,z,w]$ and $X := Z(f) \subset \mathbf{P}^3_{\Bbb{Q}}$.
We may consider the surface $X_p := Z(f \bmod{p}) \subset \mathbf{P}^3(\Bbb{F}_p)$.
If $X$ and $X_p$ are smooth then the specialization map is injective
$$\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \hookrightarrow \operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) \quad \text{and} \quad \rho(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \leq \rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}).$$
Goal
For a given $f$ and $p$, improve the inequality $\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \leq \rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$.
Parity reasons might already force the inequality to not be sharp.
Endomorphisms of the transcendental lattice can complicate things even further.
$$\operatorname{Pic}(A)/\operatorname{Pic}^0(A) = \operatorname{NS}(A)$$
$$\bigl(\operatorname{Pic}(A)/\operatorname{Pic}^0(A)\bigr)_{\Bbb{Q}} \simeq \{\phi \in \operatorname{End}(A)_{\Bbb{Q}} : \phi^{\dagger} = \phi\}, \qquad \dagger\text{ the Rosati involution}$$
$$\operatorname{End}_{\Bbb{Q}} E^{\mathrm{al}} = \Bbb{Q} \quad\text{or}\quad \Bbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d})\;(\mathrm{CM})$$
$$\begin{aligned} a_p \equiv 0 \bmod p &\Longleftrightarrow p\text{ inert or ramified in }\Bbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d}) \\ &\Longleftrightarrow \operatorname{End}_{\Bbb{Q}} E^{\mathrm{al}} \not\simeq \operatorname{End}_{\Bbb{Q}} E_p^{\mathrm{al}} \end{aligned}$$
$E: y^2 + y = x^3 - x^2 - 10x - 20$ (LMFDB label: 11.a2)
$E: y^2 + y = x^3 - 7$ (LMFDB label: 27.a2)
$$\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \hookrightarrow \operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) \quad \text{and} \quad \rho(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \leq \rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$$
If $p$ and $q$ are two primes of good reduction, and
$$\begin{gathered} \rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) = \rho(X_q^{\mathrm{al}}) = 2r, \\ \operatorname{disc} \operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) \neq \operatorname{disc} \operatorname{Pic}(X_q^{\mathrm{al}}) \quad \text{in } \Bbb{Q}^{\times}/(\Bbb{Q}^{\times})^2. \end{gathered}$$
then
$$\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}}) < 2r.$$
van Luijk, used this technique with $r = 1$, to provide the first known examples of K3 surfaces over $\Bbb{Q}$ such that $\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}}) = 1$
Does this always work?
$$X : x^3 z + 3x^2 y^2 + 5xw^3 + y^3 w + 3yz^3 - 5z^2 w^2 = 0 \ \subset \ \mathbf{P}^3$$
| $p$ | $\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$ | disc |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 18 | $-55$ |
| 13 | 18 | $-85$ |
$$P_2(t) \leadsto \operatorname{disc}\operatorname{Pic}(X_p) \bmod (\Bbb{Q}^{\times})^2.$$
The specialization map
$$\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}) \hookrightarrow \operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$$
has torsion-free cokernel for $p \neq 2$.
Thus, if $\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) = \rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})$ every invertible sheaf lifts.
For example, if $\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}}) = 2$,
This approach is only practical if one can compute $\operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$ and if the obtained estimates are low.
$$q^{-22}P_2(qt)=h(t)\prod_i\Phi_{k_i}(t)^{\gamma_i}$$
$$\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})=\sum_i\gamma_i\deg\Phi_{k_i}=22-\deg h\in2\Z$$
$$T:=T(X)_{\Bbb{Q}}=c_1(\operatorname{Pic}(X^{\mathrm{al}}))_{\Bbb{Q}}^{\perp}\subset H^2(X_{\Bbb{C}},\Bbb{Q})$$
$$E:=\operatorname{End}_{\mathrm{Hdg}}(T)=\{a\in\operatorname{End}_{\Bbb{Q}}(T):a_{\Bbb{C}}(T^{i,j})\subset T^{i,j}\}$$
$T$ minimal rational sub-Hodge structure with $H^{2,0}\subset T_{\Bbb{C}}$: $0\neq\alpha\in E\Rightarrow\alpha(H^{2,0})=H^{2,0}\Rightarrow\operatorname{im}\alpha=T\Rightarrow\alpha^{-1}\in E$
$$V\otimes\Bbb{Q}_\ell^{\mathrm{al}}=\bigoplus_{\sigma:E\hookrightarrow\Bbb{Q}_\ell^{\mathrm{al}}}V_\sigma,\quad\dim V_\sigma=m,\quad g|V_\sigma\in SO(V_\sigma)$$
$$m\text{ odd}\Rightarrow\dim\ker(g-1)\geq d\Rightarrow\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\geq\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})+d$$
$$\eta(X^{\mathrm{al}}):=\min_{p\text{ good}}\bigl(\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})-\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\bigr)$$
Consider
$$\Pi_{\mathrm{jump}}(X):=\{p\text{ good}:\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})>\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})+\eta(X^{\mathrm{al}})\}$$
Is this set infinite? What is its density?
What about
$$X/\Bbb{Q}:\quad\gamma(X,B):=\frac{\#\{p\leq B:p\in\Pi_{\mathrm{jump}}(X)\}}{\#\{p\leq B:p\text{ prime}\}}\quad\text{as }B\rightarrow\infty\quad ?$$
So far we have been trying to improve the inequality $\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\leq\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})$.
Can we use the inequality to our advantage?
If there are infinitely many $p$ primes such that
$$\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})<\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\text{ and }\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\neq22,$$
then $X^{\mathrm{al}}$ contains infinitely many rational curves.
The set $\{p:\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\neq22\}$ has positive density (density 1 after finite extension).
$$J(X):=\{p\text{ good}:\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})>\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\}$$
$$S_L:=\begin{cases}\{p\text{ good}\}&L=k,\\\{p\text{ good, inert in }L/k\}&e=2.\end{cases}$$
$$(\operatorname{Pic}(A^{\mathrm{al}})/\operatorname{Pic}^0(A^{\mathrm{al}}))_{\Bbb{Q}}\simeq\{\phi\in\operatorname{End}(A^{\mathrm{al}})_{\Bbb{Q}}:\phi^\dagger=\phi\}$$
$$\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})=18+\operatorname{rk}\operatorname{Hom}(E_1^{\mathrm{al}},E_2^{\mathrm{al}})$$
| $X$ | $\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})$ | $\gamma(X,B)$, predicted | What is known |
|---|---|---|---|
| square of CM | 20 | $1/2$ | $1/2+o(1)$, CM theory |
| square of non-CM | 19 | $\sim c_X/\sqrt{B}$ | infinitely many [Elkies 1987] |
| CM times CM | 18 | $1/4$ | $1/4+o(1)$, CM theory |
| CM times non-CM | 18 | $\sim c_X/\sqrt{B}$ | infinitely many [Charles 2018] |
| non-CM times non-CM | 18 | $\sim c_X/\sqrt{B}$ | infinitely many [Charles 2018] |
Remark
$p\in\Pi_{\mathrm{jump}}(X)$ depends uniquely on the pair $(a_{E_1}(p),a_{E_2}(p))$.
$$\tau:\operatorname{Gal}(k^{\mathrm{al}}/k)\longrightarrow O(V)$$
$$\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\geq\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})+2$$
The functional equation of the Frobenius action on $H^2(X)$ has the plus sign if and only if $D_X$ is square mod $p$.
$$\varepsilon_p=\det(-\operatorname{Frob}_p\mid H^2_{\mathrm{et}}(X^{\mathrm{al}},\Bbb{Q}_\ell(1)))=\left(\frac{D_X}{p}\right)$$
$$\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})=2r,\quad\left(\frac{D_X}{p}\right)=-1\quad\Rightarrow\quad\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\geq2r+2$$
$$p\text{ good},\ p\nmid2d_X:\quad\det(\operatorname{Frob}_p\mid T_\ell(1))=\left(\frac{d_X}{p}\right)=-1\Rightarrow\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\geq r+2$$
$$\begin{aligned}d_X={}&-1\cdot5\cdot151\cdot22490817357414371041\\&\cdot387308497430149337233666358807996260780875056740850984213276970343278935342068889706146733313789\end{aligned}$$
$$\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\geq\begin{cases}\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})&\text{if }E\text{ is CM or }m\text{ is even,}\\\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})+d&\text{if }E\text{ is totally real and }m\text{ is odd.}\end{cases}$$
Further, assume that we are in the second case, then exist infinitely many pairs $(p,q)$ such that the equality holds and
$$\operatorname{disc}\operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\not\equiv\operatorname{disc}\operatorname{Pic}(X_q^{\mathrm{al}})\bmod(\Bbb{Q}^{\times})^2$$
$$\text{Order-5 example:}\quad17\leq\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})<18$$
$$\min_p\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})=r+d;\qquad\text{two-prime upper bound: }r+d-1$$
$$F\hookrightarrow E,\quad[F:\Bbb{Q}]=2;\qquad\rho(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})=\rho(X_q^{\mathrm{al}})=18$$
$$\operatorname{disc}\operatorname{Pic}(X_p^{\mathrm{al}})\not\equiv\operatorname{disc}\operatorname{Pic}(X_q^{\mathrm{al}})\bmod(\Bbb{Q}^{\times})^2$$
$$\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\leq17,\quad\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\text{ even}\quad\Rightarrow\quad\rho(X^{\mathrm{al}})\leq16$$
$$w^2=(-y^2/8+yz-z^2)(7x^2/8+5xz+7z^2)(2x^2+3xy+y^2)$$