Large odd prime power order automorphism groups of algebraic curves in any characteristic

Let X be a (projective, geometrically irreducible, nonsingular) algebraic curve of genus g >= 2 defined over an algebraically closed field K of odd characteristic p >= 0, and let Aut(X) be the group of all automorphisms of X which fix K element-wise. For any a subgroup G of Aut(X) whose order is a power of an odd prime d other than p, the bound proven by Zomorrodian for Riemann surfaces is vertical bar G vertical bar <= 9(g - 1) where the extremal case can only be obtained for d = 3 and g >= 10. We prove Zomorrodian's result for any K. The essential part of our paper is devoted to extremal 3-Zomorrodian curves X. Two cases are distinguished according as the quotient curve X/Z for a central subgroup Z of Aut(X) of order 3 is either elliptic, or not. For elliptic type extremal 3-Zomorrodian curves X, we completely determine the two possibilities for the abstract structure of G using deeper results on finite 3-groups. We also show infinite families of extremal 3-Zomorrodian curves for both types, of elliptic or non-elliptic. Our paper does not adapt methods from the theory of Riemann surfaces, nevertheless it sheds a new light on the connection between Riemann surfaces and their automorphism groups. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.