Solvability in Polynomials of Pell Equations in a Pencil and a Conjecture of Pink
The classical Pell equation X2−DY2=1, to be solved in integers X,Y≠0, has a variant for function fields (studied already by Abel), where now D=D(t) is a complex polynomial of even degree and we seek solutions in nonzero complex polynomials X(t),Y(t). In this context solvability is no longer ensured by simple conditions on D and may be considered `exceptional'.
In the talk we shall mainly let D(t)=Dλ(t) vary in a pencil. When Dλ(t) has degree ≤4, it may be seen that for infinitely many λ∈\C there are nontrivial solutions. On the other hand, it is not so when Dλ has degree 6 (provided natural assumptions are verified).
Such finiteness result, obtained jointly with D. Masser, represents a conjecture of Pink for `Unlikely Intersections' in a simple abelian scheme over a curve. We shall survey on the whole context and also comment on related problems.