Computing $L$-functions and semistable reduction of superelliptic curves

We give an explicit description of the stable reduction of superelliptic curves of the form $y^n=f(x)$ at primes $p$ whose residue characteristic is prime to the exponent $n$. We then use this description to compute the local $L$-factor of the curve and the exponent of conductor at $p$.

Deformation data, Belyi maps, and the local lifting problem

We prove existence and nonexistence results for certain differential forms in positive characteristic, called {em good deformation data}. Some of these results are obtained by reduction modulo $p$ of Belyi maps. As an application, we solve the local lifting problem for groups with Sylow $p$-subgroup of order $p$.