The Mordell-Weil rank of elliptic curves (Q1089401)

The author proves that if E is an elliptic curve defined over \({\mathbb{Q}}\), then for every integer r there is a number field K of degree at most \(6\cdot 2^ r\) such that E(K) has rank at least r. In fact, this result is true using degree \(2^ r\), as follows for example from a paper by \textit{G. Frey} and \textit{M. Jarden} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 28, 112-128 (1974; Zbl 0275.14021); theorem 2.2 and the remark following it]. [Let E be given by \(y^ 2=x^ 3+Ax+B\), let \(T_ 1,...,T_ r\) be independent variables, and let \(S_ i=\sqrt{T^ 3_ i+AT_ i+B}\). Then E clearly has rank at \(least\quad r\) over \({\mathbb{Q}}(T_ 1,...,T_ r,S_ 1,...,S_ r)\). Now Néron's theorem [\textit{A. Néron}, Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 80, 101-166 (1952; Zbl 0049.308)] says that there are infinitely many choices for \(T_ i\in {\mathbb{Q}}\) for which the rank remains at least r.] Let K be a number field, let E/K be an elliptic curve and let \(K_{\infty}\) be the field obtained by adjoining to K all roots of unity. \textit{K. A. Ribet} [Enseign. Math., II. Sér. 27, 315-319 (1981; Zbl 0495.14011)] has shown that \(E(K_{\infty})_{tors}\) is finite. The author asserts that \(E(K_{\infty})\) is not finitely generated, but he restricts his argument to the case \(K={\mathbb{Q}}\). And even in this case his method only works if \(-(4{\mathbb{A}}^ 3-27B^ 2)\) is a square in \({\mathbb{Q}}\). However, it is true in general that \(E({\mathbb{Q}}_{\infty})\) is not finitely generated, since \({\mathbb{Q}}_{\infty}\) contains all square roots [see Frey-Jarden (op. cit.)]. On the other hand, if \(K\neq {\mathbb{Q}}\), the reviewer is not aware of any general results on the non-finite generation of \(E(K_{\infty})\).