Subfields of ample fields I. Rational maps and definability

Pop proved that a smooth curve C over an ample field K that has a K-rational point has |K| many K-rational points. We strengthen this result by showing that there are |K| many K-rational points that do not lie in a given proper subfield, even after applying a rational map. As a consequence we gain insight into the structure of existentially definable subsets of ample fields. In particular, we prove that a perfect ample field has no existentially definable proper infinite subfields.