Rational points on the curve y^p=f(x) in characteristic p

Let $K$ be a finite extension of $\mathbb{F}_q(t)$ and define the curve $C$ by the equation $y^p=f(x)$ where $p=\mathbf{char} K$ and $f\in K[x]$. What is the genus of $C$? When does it have infinitely many $K$-points?

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It "changes genus". It has genus zero over the algebraic closure of $K$ but it behaves as if it had positive genus over $K$ unless there is a change of coordinates over $K$ that changes $f(x)$ into a polynomial defined over $K^p$. When it has positive genus over $K$ in this sense, then the set of $K$-rational points is finite. I proved this in Bull. SMF 119(1991), 121-126.
Thanks, this is helpful. Perhaps you can also answer the following question: is there a good characterization of all polynomials $f\in K[x]$ s.t. $y^{p^k}=f(x)$ has infinitely many K-points for all k? – Alex Jun 10 '13 at 19:57
My guess would be that it's only for those polynomials for which there is a change of variables over $K$ taking the equation to one defined over $\mathbb{F}_q$. – Felipe Voloch Jun 10 '13 at 20:28
This doesn't seem to be correct as the example $f=tx^2+1$ over $K=\mathbb{F}_q(t)$ ($p>2$) shows. In this example the required change of variables is defined over a quadratic extension. Possibly the existence of such a change of variables over some separable extension is necessary, but it is not clear whether it is sufficient. – Alex Jun 11 '13 at 8:38