Inverse Galois problem for ordinary curves

Abstract

We consider the inverse Galois problem over function fields of positive characteristic p, for example, the inverse Galois problem over the projective line. We describe a method to construct certain Galois covers of the projective line and other curves, which are ordinary in the sense that their Jacobian has maximal p-torsion. We do this by constructing Galois covers of ordinary semi-stable curves, and then deforming them into smooth Galois covers.

correction of a few small errors, improvements made in presentation, comments are still welcome!