Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ii / Paper 3 / 21F (Riemann Surfaces)

Set $F(z,w)=w^2-z^n+1$. Its complex gradient is $(-n{z}^{n-1},2w)$, never zero on $F=0$: simultaneous zero would give $z=w=0$, which is not on the curve. The complex implicit function theorem therefore gives a one-dimensional complex manifold, hence a Riemann surface. Where $w\ne 0$ use $z$ as coordinate, and where $z\ne 0$ use $w$; the transition maps and both projections are holomorphic.

For $\pi$, a ramification point of a holomorphic map has $w=0$ and $z=\zeta$ with ${\zeta }^n=1$. In the coordinate $w$, $z-\zeta =w^2/(n{\zeta }^{n-1})+O(w^4)$, giving ramification index $2$. Thus there are $n$ such points, and their branch points are the $n$th roots of unity.

For $\tau$, a ramification point of a holomorphic map has $z=0,w=\pm i$. In the coordinate $z$, $w-w_0=z^n/(2w_0)+O(z^{2n})$, giving ramification index $n$ at both points and branch points $\pm i$.

Write $n=2m$. At infinity set $u=1/z$, $v=w{u}^m$; then $v^2=1-u^n$. At $u=0$ there are two smooth points, $v=\pm 1$, and $u$ is a local coordinate. The extended $\pi$ has a simple pole at each, so neither is ramified. The degree-two Riemann-Hurwitz formula for the map to the Riemann sphere gives $2g-2=2(-2)+n$, henceThe list for $\tau$ above concerns the original affine Riemann surface; on the compactification its poles at the two added points have order $m$ and are additionally ramified if $m>1$.