Calculating root numbers of elliptic curves over \(\mathbb{Q}\) (Q1320367)

Let \(E\) be an elliptic curve defined over \(\mathbb{Q}\). For each prime number \(p\) and the `prime at infinity' \(p = \infty\) there is associated to \(E\) the local root number \(W_ p = W_ p(E)\). These are intrinsic invariants of \(E\). For all \(p\), \(W_ p = \pm 1\), and for all but finitely many \(p\), \(W_ p=1\). The ``root number'' is then defined to be \(W(E) = \prod_{p \leq \infty} W_ p (E)\). This plays an important role in number theory, and because of this it is desirable to be able to write formulas for \(W\) that can be immediately translated into computer code. The present paper builds on an earlier paper of \textit{D. E. Rohrlich} [Compos. Math. 87, No. 2, 119-151 (1993; Zbl 0791.11026)]. This latter paper determines \(W_ p(E)\) for all \(p \geq 5\) and all \(E\) over \(\mathbb{Q}\), and for \(p=2, 3\) and certain \(E\). Many of these determinations are quite explicit, but some of the difficult cases require some nontrivial work to put the results in a form ready for computer implementation. The present paper carries out this work. For technical reasons, it is assumed throughout that the \(j\)-invariant of \(E\) is not 0 or 1728.