Pointless K3 surfaces over finite fields

Abstract

We prove that K3 surfaces with no rational points over the finite field with $q$ elements exist if and only if $q\le 11$. Our approach applies linear programming techniques to improve on generic sphere packing bounds for the discriminants of even rootless definite lattices. These bounds are applied to constrain the possible zeta functions of K3 surfaces with no rational points via the Artin--Tate formula. The remaining cases are ruled out by direct analysis of primitive embeddings of particular lattices into Niemeier lattices.

arXiv comment20 pages