On the Zeta function and the automorphism group of the generalized Suzuki curve

Abstract: For $p$ an odd prime number, $q_{0}=p^{t}$, and $q=p^{2t-1}$, let $\mathcal{X}{\mathcal{G}{\mathcal{S}}}$ be the nonsingular model of $$ Y^{q}-Y=X^{q_{0}}(X^{q}-X). $$ In the present work, the number of $\mathbb{F}{q^{n}}$-rational points and the full automorphism group of $\mathcal{X}{\mathcal{G}{\mathcal{S}}}$ are determined. In addition, the L-polynomial of this curve is provided, and the number of $\mathbb{F}{q^{n}}$-rational points on the Jacobian $J_{\mathcal{X}{\mathcal{G}{\mathcal{S}}}}$ is used to construct \'{e}tale covers of $\mathcal{X}{\mathcal{G}{\mathcal{S}}}$, some with many rational points.