# Solvability in Polynomials of Pell Equations in a Pencil and a Conjecture of Pink

 Special Number Theory Seminar Topic: Solvability in Polynomials of Pell Equations in a Pencil and a Conjecture of Pink Speaker: Umberto Zannier Affiliation: Scuola Normale Superiore de Pisa, Italy Date: Wednesday, April 10 Time/Room: 2:00pm - 3:00pm/S-101 Video Link: https://video.ias.edu/specialnumbertheory/1213/0410-UmbertoZannier

The classical Pell equation $X^2-DY^2=1$, to be solved in integers $X,Y\neq 0$, has a variant for function fields (studied already by Abel), where now $D=D(t)$ is a complex polynomial of even degree and we seek solutions in nonzero complex polynomials $X(t),Y(t)$. In this context solvability is no longer ensured by simple conditions on $D$ and may be considered exceptional'. In the talk we shall mainly let $D(t)=D_\lambda(t)$ vary in a pencil. When $D_\lambda(t)$ has degree $\le 4$, it may be seen that for infinitely many $\lambda\in\C$ there are nontrivial solutions. On the other hand, it is not so when $D_\lambda$ has degree $6$ (provided natural assumptions are verified). Such finiteness result, obtained jointly with D. Masser, represents a conjecture of Pink for Unlikely Intersections' in a simple abelian scheme over a curve. We shall survey on the whole context and also comment on related problems.