Elliptic curves, \(L\)-functions, and Hilbert's tenth problem (Q2406359)

Hilbert's Tenth Problem (``HTP'' in the future) can be phrased as the following question. Given a recursive domain \(R\), is there a uniform algorithm to determine whether an arbitrary polynomial equation with coefficients in \(R\) has solutions in \(R\)? The problem was originally formulated by Hilbert for \(\mathbb Z\) and was shown to be unsolvable in 1969 by Yurii Matijasevich building on results of M. Davis, H. Putnam and J. Robinson. A similar question has been asked about other commutative rings, in particular rings of integers of number fields. In principle, the question can be answered negatively over a ring of integers of a number field, if one constructs an existential definition of \({\mathbb Z}\) over such a ring in the language of rings. While such a construction has been carried out over certain classes of number fields (e.g. totally real fields), the general question remains open. \textit{J. Denef} was probably the first person who considered using elliptic curves to construct an existential definition of \(\mathbb Z\) over the ring of integers of a number field [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 257, 227--236 (1980; Zbl 0426.12009)]. He was followed by \textit{B. Poonen} [Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 2369, 33--42 (2002; Zbl 1057.11068)], \textit{G. Cornelissen} et al. [J. Théor. Nombres Bordx. 17, No. 3, 727--735 (2005; Zbl 1161.11323)], and the reviewer [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 360, No. 7, 3541--3555 (2008; Zbl 1222.11147)]. In the last mentioned paper it was shown that if for every cyclic extension \(M/K\) of number fields of prime degree, there existed an elliptic curve defined over \(K\) of positive rank over \(K\) and of the same rank over \(M\), then \(\mathbb Z\) has an existential definition over the ring of integers of any number field. In [Invent. Math. 181, No. 3, 541--575 (2010; Zbl 1227.11075)], \textit{B. Mazur} and \textit{K. Rubin} showed that the requisite elliptic curves existed, provided a part of Shafarevich-Tate conjecture was true. In the paper under review, the authors provide another conjectural proof of the existence of the required elliptic curve, but using different, and just as well known conjectures. More specifically, the following theorem is proved. Suppose that elliptic curves over number fields are automorphic, that they satisfy the parity conjecture, and that they satisfy the analytic rank zero part of the twisted Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture. Then for every cyclic number field extension \(M/K\), there exists an elliptic curve defined over \(K\) of positive rank over \(K\) and of the same rank over \(M\).