The old subvariety of \(J_ 0(pq)\) and the Eisenstein kernel in Jacobians (Q1310421)

Let \(p\) and \(q\) be distinct odd primes. The degeneracy maps \(v^*_ 1, v^*_ q : J_ 0 (p) \to J_ 0 (pq)\), where \(J_ 0 (p)\) denotes the Jacobian of the modular curve \(X_ 0 (p)\), induce natural maps \(\varphi_ p : J_ 0 (p)^ 2 \to J_ 0 (pq)\). The ``old subvariety'' of \(J_ 0 (pq)\) is the sum \(\text{im} \varphi_ p + \text{im} \varphi_ q\). Understanding the old subvariety is equivalent to understanding the finite abelian group \(G = \text{im} \varphi_ p \cap \text{im} \varphi_ q\). \textit{K. A. Ribet} [``The old subvariety of \(J_ 0 (pq)\)'', Arithmetic Algebraic Geometry, Proc. Conf., Texel 1989, Prog. Math. 89, 293-307 (1991; Zbl 0741.14009)] determined the \(\ell\)- primary part of \(G\) for every odd prime \(\ell\). In the paper under review the 2-primary part of \(G\) is studied via its intersection with the Eisenstein kernel \(J_ 0 (p) [I_ p]^ 2 \times J_ 0 (q) [I_ q]^ 2\) for primes \(p,q \not\equiv 1 \pmod{16}\).