Uniform estimate of Lang-Weil type for counting points of schemes over finite rings

Abstract: In this paper, we study the number of points of $\mathbb{Z}$-schemes $X$ of finite type over the finite rings $\mathbb{Z}/p<sup>m\mathbb{Z}$ for positive integers $m$ and prime numbers $p$. Motivated by Igusa's conjecture for exponential sums and the Lang-Weil estimate, we establish an estimate of $X(\mathbb{Z}/p<sup>m\mathbb{Z})$ in terms of $m$, $X(\mathbb{Z}/p<sup>{m-1}\mathbb{Z})$ and poles of the $p$-adic Igusa local zeta function of $X$ uniformly in $m\geq 2$ and $p$. Our estimate might be viewed as an inductive version for counting points of schemes over finite rings of the Lang-Weil estimate. Our estimate agrees with the expected bound of Igusa's conjecture for exponential sums if $X_{\mathbb{Q}}$ is not a locally complete intersection having only rational singularities. This can be regarded as an analogous version of the estimate of exponential sums modulo powers of primes of polynomials with non-rational singularities given by Cluckers, Mustaţǎ and the author in 2019. In the case that $X_{\mathbb{Q}}$ is a locally complete intersection having only rational singularities, our estimate is very close to the expected bound of Igusa's conjecture for exponential sums. To prove our estimate, beside using the usual tools such as resolutions of singularities and Denef's formula for Igusa local zeta functions, we also use the Hermit interpolation formula to study the numerators of Igusa local zeta functions. By the same method, we are able to approach Igusa's conjecture for exponential sums in the case of rational singularities. Lastly, to have further applications of our result in the future, we study heavily on $p$-adic analysis to give an upper bound of the real parts of non-trivial poles of Igusa local zeta functions in terms of suitable generalized log canonical thresholds.