In this talk we sketch methods of algebraic geometry to show once a Weil number is given how to construct an abelian variety with that number as Frobenius. This result was known before, but proofs were through analytic parametrizations. This is joint work with Ching-Li Chai.

For a given prime power q a Weil q-number is an algebraic integer having root q as absolute value. We will see that these numbers are easily classified, and using elementary algebra we can construct many examples. Weil showed that the Frobenius of an abelian variety over a field with q elements is a Weil q-number (the first proven case of the Weil conjectures). We recall a (well-known) easy proof of this deep theorem. Honda and Tate showed that every Weil number appears in this way. Hence we have access to existence of abelian varieties just by choosing Weil numbers. We will present a proof that indeed every Weil number appears this way (the most tricky part of the Hoda-Tate theory).

In my talk I will give explicit definitions of concepts used, and I will present proofs, that are understandable for a general audience. These deep and beautiful results are now easily understood.