Division polynomials and intersection of projective torsion points (Q503207): Difference between revisions

Let \((E_{/K},O,\pi)\) be a triple where \(E\) is an elliptic curve defined over a field \(K\) of characteristic 0, \(O\) is its base point and \(\pi\) is a morphism of \(E\) of degree 2 (defined over \(K\) as well). Let \(E[n]\) be the set of \(n\)-torsion points of \(E\) and \(E^*[n]\) the subset of points of exact order \(n\) (the \textit{primitive} \(n\)-torsion points). Put \(E[\infty]=\cup E[n]\). The paper deals with the cardinalities of the set \(\pi_1(E_1[\infty])\cap \pi_2(E_2[\infty])\) for two triples \((E_1,O_1,\pi_1)\) and \((E_2,O_2,\pi_2)\) as above. Reducing the curves to their Weierstrass form and using the canonical projection on the \(x\)-coordinate, the authors define (and study) the \(n\)th division polynomial \(f_{n,E}(X)\) (resp. the primitive \(n\)th division polynomial \(F_{n,E}(X)\)) having the \(x\)-coordinates of points in \(E[n]\) (resp. in \(E^*[n]\)) as roots. Assuming \(\pi_1(O_1)=\pi_2(O_2)\) and working with the coefficients of \(f_n\) (and of \(F_n\)) they are able to prove that \(\pi_1(E_1^*[n])=\pi_2(E_2^*[n])\) for some \(n\) is equivalent to \(\pi_1(E_1[\infty])=\pi_2(E_2[\infty])\) (while it is known that \(\pi_1(E_1[2])\neq\pi_2(E_2[2])\) yields a finite intersection \(\pi_1(E_1[\infty])\cap\pi_2(E_2[\infty])\)). Whenever these equivalent conditions do not hold, they also show that \(|\pi_1(E_1[\infty])\cap\pi_2(E_2[\infty])|=1\) when \(Gal(\overline{K}/K^{cyc})\) acts transitively on \(\pi_i(E^*_i[n])\) for \(i=1,2\). \noindent Finally, dropping the condition \(\pi_1(O_1)=\pi_2(O_2)\), the authors look for a bound on \(N:=|\pi_1(E_1[\infty])\cap\pi_2(E_2[\infty])|\) as \(E_1\) and \(E_2\) vary among curves with \(\pi_1(E_1[2])\neq\pi_2(E_2[2])\). They show that such set has at least 6 points and provide examples for \(N\geqslant 14\) (announcing a new example for \(N\geqslant 22\) in some future publication).