Explicit moduli spaces for congruences of elliptic curves (Q2193047)

In the paper under review, the author determines explicit birational models over \({\mathbb Q}\) for the modular surfaces parametrizing pairs of \(N\)-congruent elliptic curves in all cases when this surface is an elliptic surface. In each case, the author also determines the rank of the Mordell-Weil lattice and the geometric Picard number. More precisely, for an integer \(N\geq 2\), two elliptic curves are said to be \(N\)-congruent if their \(N\)-torsion subgroups are isomorphic as Galois modules. Such an isomorphism raises the Weil pairing to the power \(\varepsilon\) for some \(\varepsilon\in ({\mathbb Z}/N{\mathbb Z})^\times\). In this case, one says that the \(N\)-congruence has power \(\varepsilon.\) Note that the author considers \(\varepsilon\) up to a square, since multiplication by \(m\) (with \(\gcd(m,N)=1\)) on one of the elliptic curves changes \(\varepsilon\) to \(m^2\varepsilon.\) Let \(Z(N,\varepsilon)\) be the surface parametrizing pairs of elliptic curves with power \(\varepsilon\), up to simultaneous quadratic twist. This surface is defined over \({\mathbb Q}\). Refining the previous classification of \textit{E. Kani} and \textit{W. Schanz} [Math. Z. 227, No. 2, 337--366 (1998; Zbl 0996.14012)] who explicitly determined the pairs \((N,\varepsilon)\) for which \(Z(N,\varepsilon)\) is birational over \({\mathbb C}\), the author shows that both the cases of an elliptic \(K3\)-surface and of an elliptic surface with Kodaira dimension one (a.k.a. a properly elliptic surface) are birational over \({\mathbb Q}\) to an elliptic surface. Furthermore, the author determines in each case a Weierstrass equation for the generic fibre as an elliptic curve over \({\mathbb Q}(T).\) Note that the author considers an elliptic surface to have a section. The explicit models are given as follows. The author noted that some of the cases were already treated in [\textit{Z. Chen}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 165, No. 1, 137--162 (2018; Zbl 1451.11049); \textit{T. Fisher}, Acta Arith. 171, No. 4, 371--387 (2015; Zbl 1341.11028); \textit{A. Kumar}, Res. Math. Sci. 2, Paper No. 24, 46 p. (2015; Zbl 1380.11049)]. Theorem 1.1. The surfaces \(Z(N,\varepsilon)\) that are birational over \({\mathbb C}\) to an elliptic \(K3\)-surface, are in fact birational over \({\mathbb Q}\) to an elliptic surface. The generic fibres are the elliptic curves over \({\mathbb Q}(T)\) with the following Weierstrass equations. \[ \begin{split} Z(6,5)&:\quad y^2+3T(T-2)xy+2(T-1)(T+2)^2(T^3-2)y=x^3-6(T-1)(T^3-2)x^2,\\ Z(7,3)&:\quad y^2=x^3+(4T^4+4T^3-51T^2-2T-50)x^2+(6T+25)(52T^2-4T+25)x,\\ Z(8,3)&:\quad y^2=x^3-(3T^2-7)x^2-4T^2(4T^4-15)x+4T^2(53T^4+81T^2+162),\\ Z(8,5)&:\quad y^2=x^3-2(T^2+19)x^2-(4T^2-49)(T^4-6T^2+25)x,\\ Z(9,1)&:\quad y^2+(6T^2+3T+2)xy+T^2(T+1)(4T^3+9T+9)y+ x^3-(16T^4+12T^3+9T^2+6T+1)x^2,\\ Z(12,1)&:\quad y^2+2(5T^2+9)xy+96(T^2+3)(T^2+1)^2y+x^3+(T^2+3)(11T^2+1)x^2. \end{split} \] Theorem 1.2. The surfaces \(Z(N,\varepsilon)\) that are birational over \({\mathbb C}\) to a properly elliptic surface, are in fact birational over \({\mathbb Q}\) to an elliptic surface. The generic fibres are the elliptic curves over \({\mathbb Q}(T)\) with the following Weierstrass equations. \[ \begin{split} Z(8,7)&:\quad y^2=x^3+2(4T^6-15T^4+14T^2-1)x^2+(T^2-1)^4(16T^4-24T^2+1)x,\\ Z(9,2)&:\quad y^2+3(4T^3+T^2-2)xy+(T-1)^3(T^3-1)(4T^3-3T-7)y+ x^3\\ & \quad -3(T+1)(T^3-1)(9T^2+2T+1)x^2,\\ Z(10,1)&:\quad y^2-(3T-2)(6T^2-5T-2)xy -4T^2(T-1)^2(4T^2-2T-1)(27T^3-54T^2+16T+12)y\\ & \quad +x^3+T^2(T-1)(27T^3-54T^2+16T+12)x^2,\\ Z(10,3)&:\quad y^2+(T^3-8T^2-9T-8)xy+2T^2(T^3-T^2-3T-3)(7T^2+2T+3)y\\ & \quad +x^3+2(3T+2)(T^3-T^2-3T-3)x^2,\\ Z(11,1)&:\quad y^2+(T^3+T)xy=x^3-(4T^5-17T^4+30T^3-18T^2+4)x^2 +T^2(2T-1)(3T^2-7T+5)^2x \end{split} \] Using these explicit equations, the author applies the methods of van Luijk and Kloosterman to compute the geometric Picard number of each surface [\textit{R. Van Luijk}, J. Number Theory 123, No. 1, 92--119 (2007; Zbl 1160.14029); \textit{R. van Luijk}, Algebra Number Theory 1, No. 1, 1--17 (2007; Zbl 1123.14022); \textit{R. Kloosterman}, Can. Math. Bull. 50, No. 2, 215--226 (2007; Zbl 1162.14024)].