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Let $y^2=x^5-x-1$ be an affine model of a projective complex curve, is there an algorithm to compute the Belyi map (preferably of small degree), i.e., map to the projective line ramified only at $\{0,1,\infty\}$.

In my attempts to do this by hand, I get ramification at 4 points and, subsequently, using Shabat polynomial will skyrocket the degree of the map. Is there a way to avoid increasing the degree to thousands or hundreds? I have $\beta=h\circ g\ \circ f$, where $f$ is projection on $x$, $g=x^5-x-1$ and $h=\frac{( 12500 x + 18750 x^2 + 12500 x^3 + 3125 x^4)}{-2869}$. $\beta$ gives ramification at four points $\{0,1, \infty, \frac{3125}{2869}\}$. Also, it is possible to use $g=x^5-x$ with different $h$, but the Shabat polynomial will still be of very big degree....

After some work, I have obtained maps: $f$ projection on $x$ ramified at five roots of $x^5-x-1$, $g(z)=z^5-z$ ramified at $\pm \frac{4}{5\sqrt[4]{5}}$, $h=z^4$ ramified at $0$. As a result $\beta=h\circ g\circ f$ is ramified at $\{0, \frac{256}{3125}, 1, \infty\}$, which is slightly better. Using Shabat map $\frac{m}{m+n}=\frac{256}{256+2869}$ gives $\alpha(z)=\frac{(m+n)^{m+n}}{m^mn^n}z^m(1-z)^n=\frac{(3125)^{3125}}{256^{256} 2869^{2869} }z^{256}(1-z)^{2869} $. The resulting map $\alpha\circ\beta$ is of huge degree....

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  • $\begingroup$ First of all, there are a lot of distinct Belyi maps for a given curve. I guess there is not a method to compute the one of smallest degree, unless you have a "special curve" (modular, large automorphism, etc). Usually the maps have very high degree, since there is a finite number of curves with a given genus $>0$ and degree of the Belyi map. $\endgroup$
    – Xarles
    Jun 24, 2019 at 14:29
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    $\begingroup$ @Xarles If by "method" you mean algorithm, then I just wanted to point out that there is an algorithm to compute a Belyi map of smallest degree on any curve (which is not always very practical though): arxiv.org/pdf/1711.00125.pdf $\endgroup$ Jun 24, 2019 at 19:16
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    $\begingroup$ Possibly of interest: Vincent Beffara's "Dessins d'enfants for analysts" arxiv.org/abs/1504.00244 featuring lots of pictures $\endgroup$
    – j.c.
    Jun 24, 2019 at 23:43
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    $\begingroup$ @AriyanJavanpeykar Thank you. I have tried to follow the algorithm and can see why it is not practical... However, the bounds give some hope $\endgroup$ Jun 25, 2019 at 0:12
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    $\begingroup$ @AriyanJavanpeykar When I was writing that sentence I said to myself that that was probably wrong (so one could make up a very impractical algorithm to compute it, may be just computing all the dessins for a given degree and genus, and so on), but I am happy I wrote that, so you mentioned your nice paper. $\endgroup$
    – Xarles
    Jun 25, 2019 at 8:28

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