On the rank of certain finite fields

In the present paper we shall show that the rank of the finite field regarded as an -algebra has one of the two values 2n or 2n+1 ifn satisfies 1/2q+1<n<1/2(m(q)–2). Herem(q) denotes the maximum number of -rational points of an algebraic curve of genus 2 over . Using results of Davenport-Hasse, Honda and Rück we shall give lower bounds form(q) which are close to the Hasse-Weil bound . For specialq we shall further show thatm(q) is equal to the Hasse-Weil bound.