Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 December 2007
Let X be the Fermat curve of degree q+1 over the field k of q$^2$ elements, where q is some prime power. Considering the Jacobian J of X as a constant abelian variety over the function field k(X), we calculate the multiplicities, in subfactors of the Shafarevich–Tate group, of representations associated with the action on X of a finite unitary group. J is isogenous to a power of a supersingular elliptic curve E, the structure of whose Shafarevich–Tate group is also described.