The constant of the support problem for abelian varieties (Q740837): Difference between revisions

Let \(A\) be an abelian variety defined over a number field \(K\) and let \(P\) and \(Q\) be \(K\)-valued points of \(A\) such that for almost all primes \(\wp\) of \(K\), the orderof \((Q\text{\,mod\,}p)\) divides the order of \((P\text{\,mod\,}p)\). \textit{M. Larsen} showed [J. Number Theory 101, No. 2, 398--403 (2003; Zbl 1039.11040)] that there exists a \(K\)-endomorphism \(\phi\) of \(A\) and a positive integer \(c\) such that \(\phi(P) =cQ\). The minimal such integer is called the constant of the support problem. The present paper shows that this constant divides the exponent of the torsion part of \(A(K)\), whenever \(A\) is a power of a simple abelian variety whose \(K\)-endomorphism ring is a maximal order in a division algebra. In fact the result is slightly more general. The method of proof consists in viewing the Mordell-Weil group as a module over the endomorphism ring and apply the theory of maximal orders in division algebras.