Torsion subgroups of elliptic curves over quadratic extensions (Q676287)

The paper considers the behaviour of the torsion subgroup of an elliptic curve over \(\mathbb{Q}\) under quadratic extension of the base field. The author proves the general result that for each elliptic curve \(E\) over \(\mathbb{Q}\), there are only finitely many quadratic extensions \(k\) of \(\mathbb{Q}\) such that the torsion subgroup of \(E(k)\) is larger than that of \(E(\mathbb{Q})\). This is fairly elementary, once a result like that of \textit{B. Mazur} [Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci., Publ. Math. 47 (1977), 33-186 (1978; Zbl 0394.14008)] is known. The paper then concentrates on curves with all their 2-torsion points rational. For these curves, the various possibilities are characterized in detail. A torsion subgroup \(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z} \times\mathbb{Z}/8 \mathbb{Z}\) for example never gets larger. Similar results are given concerning the relation between the torsion subgroup of \(E\) and that of its quadratic twists.