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Fixed an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p>0$, it is well known the result of the title: $\pi^{tame}(\mathbb{A}^1_k)\simeq 1$. Where the tame fundamental group, in this situation, classifies all the finite ètale coverings of $\mathbb{A}^1_k$ which are tamely ramified on the infinite point of $\mathbb{P}^1_k$.

How is it proved?

Following Hartshorne Chap IV Par. 2, and using the Riemann-Hurwitz formula, it can be proved that $\widehat{\pi}(\mathbb{P}^1_k)\simeq 1$, hence also $\pi^{tame}(\mathbb{P}^1_k)\simeq 1$. Where $\widehat{\pi}$ is the whole ètale fundamental group.

I observed that it is crucial to look only at tamely ramified coverings on the infinite point, because there exist examples of finite ètale coverings of $\mathbb{A}^1_k$ which are wild ramified on the infinite point.

I thought to approach the problem taking the completion $k[[x]]$ of the Zariski local ring of the infinite point, then cutting out the closed point from the neighborhood $Spec(k[[x]])$ of $\infty$ one would get $Spec(k((x^{-1},x]])$ (where $k((x^{-1},x]]$ is the fraction field of $k[[x]]$) which should be contained in $\mathbb{A}^1_k$ so covered by an ètale morphism. But I didn't get anything nor I'm sure that I didn't write rubbish.

I also tried to control, in the Riemann-Hurwitz formula, the ramification index over $\infty$ with the degree of the covering map. In order to adjust the proof for $\mathbb{P}^1_k$ of Hartshorne. But again it didn't bring me anywhere.

Thank you for your attention.

Edit: I want to resume in the edit the progress I made thanks to the generous suggestions of Pete L. Clark.

We are using the notations of corollary 2.4 of chapter IV of Hartshorne. We want to apply the Riemann-Hurwitz formula to a covering $f: X\rightarrow Y$, where $Y=\mathbb{P}^1_k$. Thanks to the fact that the restriction of the covering on $\mathbb{A}^1_k$ is ètale, and applying the same formula to the restricted covering, we can deduce that the degree of $f$ is $1$. Is this true?

So the formula tells us, about the original covering, that $2g(X)=deg(R)$, where $R$ is the ramification divisor. Pete pointed out explicitely that the divisor is trivial everywhere except in one point, namely $\infty$. But I'm confused on how to use this fact for proving $deg(R)=0$.

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If I'm not mistaken, you're there already. There is one version of the Riemann-Hurwitz formula which holds when the ramification is assumed to be tame (so always in characteristic zero) and another version which allows for wild ramification. You're asking about the tame one, so applying that to a cover of $\mathbb{P}^1$ with only one ramification point will show that it has no nontrivial tamely ramified coverings in any characteristic.

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    Actually it does exist, in the sense that the degree of the ramification divisor (which does appera in Riemann-Hruwitz formula) has an explicit expression in terms of the ramification index over the ramified points. But I'm still confused on how to use this formula, because this degree is not zero (if not it wouldn't be ramified) and the genus of a covering space seems free to be almost everything. Anyway, thank you for thinking about it!2011-07-04
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    @Student: I'm not sure what you're referring to as "it". What I am saying is that in the Riemann-Hurwitz formula there is an extra term which can be nonzero only if the ramification is wild: see Corollary IV.2.4 in Hartshorne. Maybe I'm not understanding you properly and this doesn't not answer your question...but why not?2011-07-04
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    Can you use the Riemann-Hurwitz theorem to show that $\mathbb{A}^1$ has no covers of degree $d > 1$ in characteristic zero? If you haven't done that computation already, maybe that's where the problem lies?2011-07-04
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    In the notations of Corollary 2.4 of chapter IV in Hartshorne, when you refer to an extra term which can be nonzero only if the ramification is wild you are referring to $deg(R)$? If yes I cannot understand why is it true, indeed it should have a contribution from the ramification in $\infty$. I want underscore I'm thinking $Y=\mathbb{P}^1_k$, if on the other hand $Y=\mathbb{A}^1_k$ then $deg(R)$ should be $0$ in any case (tame or wild) because the map is supposed to be ètale on the whole space $\mathbb{A}^1_k$. 'sorry but I'm afraid I'm missing the point...2011-07-04
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    I'm sorry but I was writing the comment while you posted your last one. I'm trying to do that exercise right now!2011-07-04
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    @Student: I think you're on the right track. Two comments: (i) I edited my answer above: we should take $Y = \mathbb{P}^1$ and postulate a single ramification point in order to apply R-H. (ii) What I mean is that the degree of $R$ is equal to $\sum_p (e_p - 1) + W$, where $W$ is something which only appears when the ramification is wild. This is not literally the notation Hartshorne uses (sorry about that), but it's a common way to think about it: there is this "wild piece" which will make our life more difficult when it is nonzero.2011-07-04
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    I think I done the computation of the degree $d$ of an ètale covering $X$ if $char(k)=0$. Indeed we know $g(\mathbb{A}^1_k)=0$, moreover $deg(R)=0$ by ètaleness, so we get $g(X)=1-d$ which forces $d=1$. Translating this result in positive characteristic for a covering of $\mathbb{P}^1_k$ which is ètale over $\mathbb{A}^1_k$ we get also in this case $d=1$. Am I right? If this is true the Hurwitz formula tells us that $2g(X)=deg(R)$, and I have difficulties to conclude. Thank you very much for your time!2011-07-04
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    Answer accepted. The key is that the covering can be supposed to be Galois, so all the preimages of $\infty$ are isomorphic.2011-11-17