Algebraic points of low degree on the Fermat curve of degree seven (Q1275646): Difference between revisions

For odd primes \(p\) let \(F_p\) be the Fermat curve of degree \(p\), i.e. \[ F_p= \{(X,Y,Z)\in \mathbb{P}^2 (\overline{\mathbb{Q}}): X^p+ Y^p+ Z^p= 0\}. \] The degree of an algebraic point on \(F_p\) is the degree of its field of definition over \(\mathbb{Q}\). It is known [\textit{M. Klassen} and \textit{P. Tzermias}, Acta Arith. 82, 393-401 (1997; Zbl 0917.11022)] that the set of algebraic points of degree at most \(p-2\) over \(\mathbb{Q}\) on \(F_p\) is finite. In the same paper it is conjectured (and verified for \(p=5\)) that all such points lie on the line \(X+ Y+ Z= 0\). The present paper affirms this for \(p=7\). In the course of proving his result, the author establishes the essential isomorphism \[ J_7 (\mathbb{Q}) \cong (\mathbb{Z}/ 2\mathbb{Z})^2\times (\mathbb{Z}/ 7\mathbb{Z})^2, \] where \(J_p(\mathbb{Q})\) is the Mordell-Weil group of the Jacobian of \(F_p\) over \(\mathbb{Q}\). It should be noted [see \textit{B. Gross} and \textit{D. Rohrlich}, Invent. Math. 44, 201-224 (1978; Zbl 0369.14011)] that for \(p\geq 11\), \(J_p (\mathbb{Q})\) is infinite, so that for \(p> 7\) the author's argument breaks down.