Semi-stable elliptic curves and quadratic fields (Q1126371)

This paper considers the Galois representations on the \(p\)-torsion points \(E_p\) of elliptic curves \(E\) over a quadratic number field. For a fixed elliptic curve \(E\) over a number field \(K\) without complex multiplication, \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Invent. Math. 15, 259-331 (1972; Zbl 0235.14012)] proves that for \(p\) large enough, the representation \(\varphi_p :G_K \to \Aut (E_p)\) is surjective \((G_K\) being the absolute Galois group of \(K)\). He asks if it is possible to have a bound that only depends on \(K\), but not on \(E\). Nothing is known about the question in this generality. However, it follows from results of \textit{J.-P. Serre} and \textit{B. Mazur} [Invent. Math. 44, 129-162 (1978; Zbl 0386.14009)] that for semi-stable elliptic curves over \(\mathbb{Q}\), \(\varphi_p\) is surjective as soon as \(p\geq 11\). The author obtains some results in this direction for quadratic number fields \(K\). He proves that there is some number \(N(K)\) such that for \(p>N(K)\), the Galois representation \(\varphi_p\) is irreducible for each semi-stable elliptic curve over \(K\). From this, he deduces that if \(K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt l)\) with a prime \(l\equiv 1\bmod 4\), there is another number \(N'(K)\) such that for \(p>N'(K)\), the representations \(\varphi_p\) are surjective for all semi-stable elliptic curves over \(K\). For both results, explicit bounds are given if \(K\) has class number one.