From geometric to function-theoretic Langlands (or how to invent shtukas)

Abstract

This is an informal note that explains that the classical Langlands theory over function fields can be obtained from the geometric one by taking the trace of Frobenius. The operation of taking the trace of Frobenius takes place at the categorical level, and this we deduce that the space of automorphic functions is the trace of the Frobenius on the category of automorphic sheaves.