Some extensions of the modular method and Fermat equations of signature $(13,13,n)$

Abstract

We provide several extensions of the modular method which were motivated by the problem of completing previous work to prove that, for any integer $n \geq 2$, the equation \[ x^{13} + y^{13} = 3 z^n \] has no non-trivial solutions. In particular, we present four elimination techniques which are based on: (1) establishing reducibility of certain residual Galois representations over a totally real field; (2) generalizing image of inertia arguments to the setting of abelian surfaces; (3) establishing congruences of Hilbert modular forms without the use of often impractical Sturm bounds; and (4) a unit sieve argument which combines information from classical descent and the modular method. The extensions are of broader applicability and provide further evidence that it is possible to obtain a complete resolution of a family of generalized Fermat equations by remaining within the framework of the modular method. As a further illustration of this, we complete a theorem of Anni-Siksek to show that, for $\ell, m\ge 5$, the only solutions to the equation $x^{2\ell} + y^{2m} = z^{13}$ are the trivial ones.