Generalization of a criterion for semistable vector bundles

Abstract

It is known that a vector bundle E on a smooth projective curve Y defined over an algebraically closed field is semistable if and only if there is a vector bundle F on Y such that the cohomologies of E\otimes F vanish. We extend this criterion for semistability to vector bundles on curves defined over perfect fields. Let X be a geometrically irreducible smooth projective curve defined over a perfect field k, and let E be a vector bundle on X. We prove that E is semistable if and only if there is a vector bundle F on $X$ such that the cohomologies of E\otimes F vanish. We also give an explicit bound for the rank of $F$.